Tony Ortega's Blog, page 44
April 10, 2025
Scientology’s appeal in the Danny Masterson civil suit is cynical — and likely to fail
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: On Tuesday we told you that Scientology turned in its appeal brief in the civil suit against the Church and Danny Masterson. We know this stuff is complex, and so once again we’ve turned to an appellate attorney who provides really interesting analysis we knew you’d want to see. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“I have just made a real breakthrough on the action of pain-killers (known as aspirin, tranquilizers, hypnotics, soporifics). It has never been known in chemistry or medicine exactly how or why these things worked. Such compositions are derived by accidental discoveries that ‘such and so depresses pain.’ The effects of existing compounds are not uniform in result and often have very bad side effects. As the reason they worked was unknown very little advance has been made in biochemistry. If the reason they worked were known and accepted possibly chemists could develop some actual ones which had minimal side effects. We will leave the fact that this could be the medical biochemical discovery of the century and let the Nobel Prizes continue to go to the inventors of nose drops and new ways to kill and simply ourselves use it. Biochemical tech is not up to the point at this time that it can utilize it. Pain or discomfort of a psychosomatic nature comes from mental image pictures. These are created by the thetan or living beings and impinge or press against the body. By actual clinical test, the actions of aspirin and other pain depressants are to: A. INHIBIT THE ABILITY OF THE THETAN TO CREATE MENTAL IMAGE PICTURES and also B. TO IMPEDE THE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF NERVE CHANNELS. Both of these facts have a vital effect on processing.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1969
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
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“Under this particular zone in Scientology right now, we have, oddly enough, culminated — and this is hard to believe, because it is such a wildly embracive figure — we have culminated in anything that was desirable in the fields of religion, mysticism, spiritualism, or mental sciences. Anything desirable in those particular fields have been discovered and culminated in the field of Scientology right now. That’s why I say it’s rather hard to believe, but you look at it, that’s true. So we do have valuable subject materials. Now, that job is complete. And so, number one of these, course management, as far as we’re concerned, on a Scientology course, that is complete. We’re even throwing away material now which would have been enough to have made a complete science and revolutionized middle Europe, you know, two hundred years ago.” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 10, 1959
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“WOG WORLD: If you were puzzled about my ‘now in the WOG world’ jokes in yesterdays OOD — that was the way certain people were 3rd partying us. Making a horrible false impression between us and elsewhere. ‘Now in the Wog world — ” Or how great the beach is compared to the ship. At least we’re trying to get it to survive and that’s more than you can say for the ‘Wog World’.” — The Commodore, April 10, 1969
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“Hubbardian Scientological-like tricks to trap, contain, and eliminate or ameliorate the developing infidel-illogicals of humanity while promoting an advancing ‘expanding’ HS-elite gradient of Theta Clears going forward has been part of Man’s social engineering constructivities since the Golden Dawn of Civilizations. We can do better. And I suspect Hubbard thought so too with a KSW: always, eternally and forevermore.”
1999: Cinescape reports that casting has begun on the upcoming movie Battlefield Earth, based on a book by L. Ron Hubbard. “Reports that Saving Private Ryan standout Barry Pepper has signed on to John Travolta’s upcoming sci-fi epic Battlefield Earth are premature. The Insider followed up on the buzz only to hear from Pepper’s management that the actor has simply read for the part — he’s not signed. Whether he will end up starring in the movie’s the lead role of Jonnie Goodboy Tyler remains still up in the air.”
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“I wear shorts and combat boots to the beach. Who am I kidding, I never go to the beach even though I live right near it. It’s full of gangbangers, junkies, alkies and crackheads.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. DA’s response to appeal brief due April 15.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing April 25.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud. Pre-sentencing conference was held April 4. Next hearing scheduled for April 14.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal. Leah’s appeal brief due June 3.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
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After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Leah Remini lawsuit will get a new judge after David Miscavige challenge
[TWO years ago] Former Scientology private eye wants to haul us into court in rape lawsuit
[THREE years ago] Mark Bunker reminds us that there are actually Scientology physicians out there
[FOUR years ago] Recent Scientology defector: ‘I did the Purif with SNL’s Chloe Fineman’
[FIVE years ago] Eleventh Circuit will hear oral arguments in key Scientology ‘religious arbitration’ case
[SIX years ago] LEAKED: Scientology’s secret playbook for world domination!
[SEVEN years ago] Before Scientology was a ‘church,’ L. Ron Hubbard said religion controlled people with lies
[EIGHT years ago] Why Scientology’s Erika Christensen can play a Christian convert on the big screen
[NINE years ago] Spider-Man goes drug-free for Scientology, and more in our weekly social media review!
[TEN years ago] L. Ron Hubbard’s Navy record: Chris Owen critiques the ‘Business Insider’ story
[ELEVEN years ago] Is a Scientology front group among those fighting a European effort against ‘sects’?
[TWELVE years ago] Brit Writer’s 27 Years in Scientology is Suddenly News in France — Our Man in Paris Explains Why
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,230 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,725 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,240 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,790 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,780 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,166 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,661 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,965 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,836 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,388 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,729 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,296 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,215 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,383 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,965 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,224 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,261 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,977 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,541 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,856 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,031 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,713 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,050 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,904 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,019 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,381 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,790 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,188 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,064 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,629 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,140 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,396 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,504 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 10, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
Libturd politicians are suspicious after 47 pulls the rug on his tariffs and markets soar
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});NEW: Inside Trump’s sudden retreat on tariffs
The White House claims this was the plan all along and there’s now more pressure on China
But the bond market crash spooked the West Wing, recession talk grew and more in GOP voiced worry
And Trump blinked https://t.co/CIZ0wu0u33
— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) April 9, 2025
Sanders: Would I be surprised if there are were people who, hours before knew exactly what Trump was going to do in rescinding his tariff proposals, understanding that the stock market would soar and you make huge amounts of money… No, I would not pic.twitter.com/EjnH1f71oS
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 10, 2025
This is indistinguishable from a transmission from the Borg Cube. https://t.co/oWn9VQYWZq
— Travis View (@travis_view) April 10, 2025
Before today, the last update from DOGE was March 30.
DOGE reported $140 billion in cuts.
Today, DOGE updated again and reported $150 billion in cuts.
So where did DOGE cut $10 billion?
NOTHING WAS ADDED TO THE DATABASE
DOGE JUST CHANGED THE GRAPHIChttps://t.co/bNA00CXKaj pic.twitter.com/TbShxPEPuL
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) April 9, 2025
Where are the Epstein files? pic.twitter.com/C5SFjrPBXk
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 9, 2025
In a bizarre move, even for a J6er, Jenna Ryan (of "I won't get jail time because I'm blond & white" fame) has declared a default judgment for herself in her pro se suit against @PayPal. Interesting strategy, considering that the judge has done no such thing & isn't going to. https://t.co/2y96IcOtnj
— M & M Enterprises (@sfoguj) April 9, 2025
are Americans ok? Truly. everything is Q-Anon now with different variants of racism and geopolitical utility. Impressive that are there 18 different popular enemies on the right and none of them involve your boss or his boss. Just a revolving door of minoritized boogey men https://t.co/EdMvm6nY2i
— Adam Johnson (@adamjohnsonCHI) April 10, 2025
Department of Homeland Security announces plan to screen foreign U.S. residents' social media for antisemitism
"USCIS will consider social media content that indicates an alien endorsing, espousing, promoting, or supporting antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terrorist… pic.twitter.com/d7X6cn1qBb
— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) April 9, 2025
TV AD: here is a product that appeals to the specific audience that watches this show
INSTAGRAM AD: here is a product we know you want based on your search history
TWITTER AD: hello I am a targeted individual being subjected to microwave rays by the government of peoria illinois
— america's less insane lounge singer (@KrangTNelson) April 8, 2025
The right wing grift-o-sphere isn't a monolith. It's an endless parade of people who hate each other and will do anything to drag someone down to get their market share for themselves. pic.twitter.com/Pb2zsteFGg
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) April 10, 2025
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on April 10, 2025 at 08:00
April 9, 2025
Scientologist larping as a rabbi becomes Colombia’s Director of Religious Affairs
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The Jerusalem Post is reporting on a ‘fake’ rabbi who got himself appointed Colombia’s Director of Religious Affairs, and the ensuing scandal there. But we know Richard Gamboa Ben-Eleazar for far more hilarious reasons: His years larping as a rabbi for Scientology. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“Some pcs go exterior and the auditor may have missed it and continued auditing over it. Auditing past exterior can drive the TA high (or low) and the pc may become very upset and/or ill. C/S for an L3RF to be done to determine if the pc has gone exterior. If so . . . and the pc has never had an Int RD the C/S would order an Interiorization Rundown. The Int Rundown stabilizes the exteriorization and makes it possible to audit the pc further.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1978
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
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“One of the prime principles you must know about any universe to keep it in a good, messy, chaotic, solid, disordered form is to take no responsibility for ever having created it. Say, ‘God did it,’ you’ve practically got it made! And the more you say, ‘God did it,’ the more solid the universe is going to get — if you made it up. Get the idea? Listen, if God made it and that was the true ownership of it, it would disappear! Because that’s assignment of proper ownership; that’s taking a full responsibility for it. That’s understanding exactly what its source was. And it would disappear, just like that.” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 9, 1959
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“When you view how far flung the SO is and how much it’s doing, I doubt there’s a group on the planet that could begin to equal it. Now in the wog world, there’s nothing but sunshine, chicken and ice cream. And H bombs and stupidity and snobs and aberration and the draft and droughts and inflation… Did you ever hear of troops fighting a comfortable war? I haven’t.” — The Commodore, April 9, 1969
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“If we look into the current new age mass awakening we are experiencing, former Scientologists certainly have played a major part. Among top conspiracy theorists Scios are up there and have helped awaken us. Some exteriorise out the top of Scientology and bring about a new world. Others get trapped, and although it might seem mean some of these people are naughty boys which need timeout on the naughty chair forever. Hubbard believed in Crowleyism, so this might have been one of his operating principles in life and it does make sense.”
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1998: Michail Brzitwa reported that German TV aired a segment on Gabe Cazares, who led a German delegation through Clearwater, Florida. “There was a five minute report on how former Clearwater Mayor Gabe Cazares perceives the ongoing occupation of downtown Clearwater by the ‘Church of Scientology’. Mr. Cazares lead the reporters through parts of Clearwater where scientologists purchased very many premises through the last 20 years. The TV team and Mr. Cazares were followed closely all the time by scientology official Brian Anderson who, when asked, said he wanted to know everything that’s being said. Mr. Cazares mentioned the scientology secret service, the ‘Office of Special Affairs’, OSA. Then a short interview with attorney Ken Dandar and (I think) Dell Liebreich about the ongoing lawsuit against scientology concerning this suspicious incident.”
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“So Miscavige quit doing processing right around the same time he assumed power? Sounds like he read OT 3, realized it was rubbish and went for the gold instead. That’s pretty much what I’ve always assumed.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. DA’s response to appeal brief due April 15.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing April 25.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud. Pre-sentencing conference was held April 4. Next hearing scheduled for April 14.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
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After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology says that David Miscavige did attend the Paris opening
[TWO years ago] Celebrity Sunday: A South American actress has us recalling David Miscavige getting a medal
[THREE years ago] When you’re a child in Scientology’s Sea Org, the stress is meant to overwhelm you
[FOUR years ago] Aussie journo Ben Schneiders helps us grasp the fuss he’s kicked up about Scientology
[FIVE years ago] Bobette Riales’ house burned? Scientology: ‘Can’t sue us. Didn’t happen in California.’
[SIX years ago] Scientology policy is to investigate rape victims seeking help, 1963 document reveals
[SEVEN years ago] Our prayers are answered — Freedom magazine is coming to Scientology television!
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology spends millions on its shiny new buildings, but its workers have to beg for food
[NINE years ago] Scientology buys ‘.org’ and ‘.net’ sites to battle anti-disconnection billboard in Los Angeles
[TEN years ago] Read the police report on the spies who kept tabs on the father of Scientology’s leader
[ELEVEN years ago] Monique Rathbun in court as appeals panel considers proposed David Miscavige deposition
[TWELVE years ago] How Scientology’s “Study Tech” Turns Schoolwork Into Conditioning
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,229 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,724 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,239 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,789 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,779 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,165 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,660 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,964 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,835 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,387 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,728 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,295 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,214 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,382 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,964 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,223 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,260 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,976 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,540 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,855 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,030 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,712 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,049 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,903 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,018 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,380 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,789 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,187 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,063 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,628 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,139 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,395 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,503 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on April 9, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
Trump debuts new two-toned look as the world burns
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Trump: Their new star. Crockett. How about her? Are they serious about that? That's their new star?
If that's their new star, they're in serious trouble. This is Crockett. Oh, man pic.twitter.com/VrbETRpbVq— Acyn (@Acyn) April 8, 2025
Trump’s ear tonight is a totally different color than the rest of his head pic.twitter.com/HD7AxlYAYw
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 9, 2025
Congrats to the "party of states' rights" https://t.co/IxDIrbNfVa
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) April 9, 2025
SCOOP: In his first meeting with staff, Dr. Oz, who now controls the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and its $1.5 trillion budget, promoted the idea that AI avatars could replace frontline health care workers.https://t.co/fEpFpIeFJO
— WIRED (@WIRED) April 8, 2025
New from me: It's very in vogue for tech bros to talk about "network states," where likeminded people get together to form alternative nations, often with crypto fueling the economy. The TheoBros are actually doing something like this now in Appalachia. https://t.co/GBH9cjDB4E
— Kiera Butler (@kieraevebutler) April 8, 2025
Kristi Noem and her multiple wardrobe changes yesterday pic.twitter.com/s2FiYYuSRq
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 9, 2025
Trump Supporter Arrested in Florida’s International Child Pornagraphy Ring Takedown
Jacob Conly donated to Trump in 2020 and 2024 using WinRed https://t.co/AvVHJOnZ2S
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 9, 2025
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on April 9, 2025 at 08:00
April 8, 2025
Scientology appeal in Danny Masterson civil suit attacks harassment claims
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: A few weeks past their deadline, Scientology has filed its 71-page appeal brief in the Danny Masterson civil lawsuit, and we obtained a copy. Nearly a year ago, the church appealed a ruling denying its attempt to gut this case after Danny was sent to prison. We have the details. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“Today you can assume safely that anyone out of valence can be put in valence quietly and efficiently with LX items and 220H if he is audited and if the auditing is standard. This is quite a worthwhile development as it resolves the heavily overcharged case. A symptom of a heavily charged case is F/Ning too quickly to be processed well. Using these lists on a pc is not a critical action. Even (and especially) children are too overcharged to be easily audited.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1978
——————–
THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
——————–
THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
——————–
“Is there any way to lick this thing called life? Well, that’s quite a thing to undertake, really. All in a few minutes, sit down with some preclear and go bang, bang, bang, and he feels better. Remember, this individual, at least so far as we can trace on an E-Meter has been about 76 trillion years on a track. He’s had experience after experience after experience after experience. He’s been through things they wouldn’t dare film or describe anywhere. And yet, we have the total conceit of — in using a few words — of attempting to resolve his wobbliness, his inabilities, his incapacities which have resulted from these experiences.” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 8, 1954
——————–
“DEMOTION: Pending Comm Ev for muddying up port relations Mike Smith, Peter Warren, and Amos Jessup are removed from post and restricted to the ship. Ship’s Rep actions will be undertaken by the Purser and the 3rd Mate….I finally got data enough to get things handled and, with reservations, all is okay. If a problem or situation can’t be handled get it to somebody who can handle it. Don’t sit on it until the roof falls in. People only get bit for (a) not taking responsibility for their areas and for (b) failing to do their jobs or for (c) getting us in a mess through irresponsibility or stupidity.” — The Commodore, April 8, 1969
——————–
“I found it confusing that Hubbard might have harmed some people. I think now I get it. Hubbard and possibly the real Illuminati see it as their duty to degrade the degenerate. If you let the moron go free, he might end up voting in a commie government or simply wreck life on Earth because he’s such an idiot. So Hubbard might have devised a way to trap and degrade degraded people so that they don’t stuff up Earth. Good and talented people rise above Hubbard’s tricks and break free to become a part of the elite of society and help the world. His trap is able to be gotten out of by logical people. Illogical people who are dangerous to the world (the degenerate lefty which you can see at silly protests in the streets) needs to be trapped and is trapped as they lack logic and only a logical classy mind can break free of Hubbards’ maze. So Scientology is a maze designed to trap the degenerate and to enhance the elite of society who are the only ones able to work out where the exit of the maze is.”
——————–
1997: Los Angeles’ Berendo St. was officially renamed L. Ron Hubbard Way this week, and a.r.s poster “Roger” provided a first hand account of the event. “My guess would be that the crowd was easily 5000 people. I was very surprised by the strong support of Hubbard and Scientology demonstrated by the political types who spoke. (head of the LA City council, someone from public works, and reps of the Governor and Mayor). After the ribbon cutting and the speeches, the politicians, the President of Scientology, Travolta, Kirstie Alley and David Miscavige linked arms and walked the length of the street as the band played on. I’m not particularly a ‘star-struck’ type, but it was a kick to see Travolta and Kirstie close-up. (could have reached out and touched them) The power of celebrity is very real.”
——————–
“From what I’ve read registrars routinely tell prospective clients that Scientology can cure numerous physical aliments that the person is suffering from. That is medical fraud, is it not?”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. DA’s response to appeal brief due April 15.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing April 25.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud. Pre-sentencing conference was held April 4. Next hearing scheduled for April 14.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
——————–
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology said Leah Remini inspired his ‘crime.’ Now he’s talking.
[TWO years ago] Scientology propaganda update: The Fabos Factor is back as the entire US goes Ideal!
[THREE years ago] This time, Scientology puts up no fight as Jane Doe 1’s new attorneys join the fray
[FOUR years ago] Talk about ‘enabling’ Scientology, watch this craven plan to kick Mark Bunker off board
[FIVE years ago] With Scientology largely shut down by the pandemic, the few remaining members reminisce
[SIX years ago] Scientology admits in planning docs it expects only 6 walk-ins daily at new facility
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology buys another derelict building in order to pretend that it’s expanding wildly
[EIGHT years ago] You tell us: What’s the current condition of the Church of Scientology?
[NINE years ago] Brian Sheen continues to fight Scientology’s ‘disconnection’ in unique and unusual ways
[TEN years ago] ‘Let him die’: Scientology leader David Miscavige had private eyes watching his father, say police
[ELEVEN years ago] Mike Bennitt shares with us a creepy e-mail he received after filming Scientology events
[TWELVE years ago] An Interview with Brandon Ogborn About His Play, The TomKat Project
——————–
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,228 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,723 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,238 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,788 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,778 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,164 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,659 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,963 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,834 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,386 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,727 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,294 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,213 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,381 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,963 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,222 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,259 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,975 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,539 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,854 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,029 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,711 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,048 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,902 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,017 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,379 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,788 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,186 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,062 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,627 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,138 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,394 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,502 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on April 8, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
Don’t be a weak panican, Trump tells girlie men worrying about their 401Ks
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Fact Check: Trump Defended Tariffs With False Honda Plant “Under Construction” Claim
Trump continues to announce a make believe Honda factory https://t.co/UV0X1TbB6G
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 7, 2025
Trump escalates trade war with China, threatens additional 50% tariff pic.twitter.com/lvOKWx4QKL
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 7, 2025
Trump calls people concerned about the economy “weak” and “stupid.” pic.twitter.com/tKNy5qZlE5
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 7, 2025
Almost all the ads I get now are this insane “Dear Leader” nonsense. pic.twitter.com/i7tNM5swnE
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) April 7, 2025
One of the major selling points of Trump/MAGA is that Trump will make it so America finally stops playing nice with other nations and bends them to our will because we're bigger and stronger than them. This was the whole "Build a wall and make Mexico pay for it" lie. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/QIWCCKbLla
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) April 8, 2025
Pete Hegseth says he won’t spend $1 trillion like a drunken defense secretary pic.twitter.com/xbHmsMt5WO
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 8, 2025
So not skipping town early this week? pic.twitter.com/wVLlxq78oA
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 7, 2025
Reporter: There have been some mixed messages from your administration, you're talking about negotiations and yet others in your administration are saying these tariffs are actually permanent
Trump: Both can be true. We need open borders pic.twitter.com/xCPA2WrMH7
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 7, 2025
The chair sniffer is starting to catch on https://t.co/eCdFU5RU7p
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 7, 2025
It has been.over a month since Trump's return to office mandate kicked in.
Rather than driving efficiency it has caused
° chaos
° cratering productivity
° physical and mental health issueshttps://t.co/NqzzHOvATj
— David Gilbert (@daithaigilbert) April 7, 2025
Damn, can’t believe America was swayed by populist messaging to elect a president who governs by personal instinct, implemented unpopular tariffs that threaten to tear apart the country, and ignores the courts in order to forcibly remove people. pic.twitter.com/dIfHw1zeQa
— Travis View (@travis_view) April 7, 2025
Draft dodger hosts Los Angeles Dodgers at White House pic.twitter.com/HK6yOaOmtk
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 7, 2025
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on April 8, 2025 at 08:00
April 7, 2025
David Miscavige shows up for Scientology ‘Ideal Org’ grand opening in South Africa
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Proving our doubts unfounded, Scientology’s David Miscavige did attend the grand opening of his newest ‘Ideal Org,’ the Church of Scientology of Eastern Cape in South Africa. We know this because a few people who attended the event yesterday posted photos, which we have for you. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“Almost any failure you have ever had with an auditor or in auditing came from auditor comm lags or errors. This is a vital datum. It came to light from applying the rule — ask the pc what the auditor did after any failed session and get it corrected in the auditor. SPEED is the main factor behind the mystery of a failed session. The better an auditor knows his TRs, his processes, his meter and admin the faster he can operate.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1978
——————–
THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
——————–
THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
——————–
“I think California has laws that nobody can cure cancer. And they’ve just disobeyed that law in England because a doctor up there, who is a Dianetic Auditor, has just cured somebody of totally proven cancer. Has taken him over to the medical association and a big conference and so on, and displayed him complete with the X-rays and so forth. So, gee it’s a good thing he didn’t do that in California. We had an auditor, in 1950s, who was actually arrested for the fact of — proven conclusively, because he’d audited somebody and they had gotten well and it was against the law to cure that disease. He got off, there wasn’t anything happened to him at all, somebody was just making a push on it locally. Pretty crazy, huh? Proved it conclusively. Against the law to heal it and he’d done it.” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 7, 1972
——————–
“COMMENDED: Quentin Hubbard is assigned a Condition of Affluence and commended for a long time performance of high volume and high quality sessions. He is a very popular auditor and I am sure his many pcs will agree.” — The Commodore, April 7, 1970
——————–
“Does anyone know around 50 years ago what people thought about the dinosaur extinction? Like when they thought it happened. Nowadays we think it happened 66 million years ago. I heard back then they thought it happened 75 million years ago. It’s very important, the validity of Scientology’s OT3 depends on it.”
1996: Grady Ward had a preliminary hearing this week. Grady is accused by the cult of being the author of the Scamizdat series of anonymous posts containing confidential processing levels. Shelley Thomson reported the proceedings in her Biased Journalism newsletter. “Thomas R. Hogan undertook to speak for the plaintiffs. Grady Ward presented himself pro se. He wore a tweed sport jacket and a red tie, the type of thing a country businessman might wear; this contrasted sharply with the smoothly tailored RTC lawyers, who seemed to have bought their gear at Spare No Expense, Inc. Judge Whyte asks if he has any connection to SCAMIZDAT. Grady Ward firmly denies that he is behind SCAMIZDAT. ‘Do you know who is doing it?’ the Judge asks. ‘No, I do not,’ Grady replies. A discussion of the TRO ensues. Grady does not mind being enjoined from doing things he had not planned to do anyway, but he is unsure of the scope of the proposed order. Judge Whyte states that he wants to enter a Preliminary Injunction, enjoining Grady Ward and anyone acting in concert with him from the publication of the Exhibit C documents listed in the Order on the net. The RTC (Whyte says) can take Ward’s deposition at a mutually convenient time within ten days, for a time not to exceed, say, four hours. ‘But if you want counsel before I make it a final decree, or want to file something further, let me know.’ ‘That sounds eminently fair, Your Honor,’ Ward replies. Grady continues. Church attorney Helena K. Kobrin has been threatening people on the net. She has been using your order [he tells the Judge] to intimidate. ‘That’s typical,’ Judge Whyte says calmly. She should not be able to intimidate other people, Grady states. ‘The Order doesn’t apply to persons not acting in concert with Grady Ward,’ the Judge says firmly. Grady won’t give it up. ‘Fear of litigation has infringed free speech on the net.’ Judge Whyte: ‘I will see that is taken care of.’ Hogan has a request. With reference to the proposed order on discovery, six hours is not enough. He wants Grady to submit records and documents in advance. Grady Ward responds that this ‘may be the prelude to a very abusive discovery process. I deny possessing any SCAMIZDAT material.’ The judge limits the deposition to one day. He informs Ward that the Plaintiffs can ask him to bring specified records to the deposition. Then if [during the deposition] you feel it is abusive, say ‘I think this is abusive’ and stop it. Call the magistrate, whose number I will give you [and ask for a protective order].”
——————–
“‘Revolt in the Stars’ should be a new reality show where Scientology celebs are put into the Sea Org and the viewers watch as one by one they quit in anguish and leave stupid Scientology.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. DA’s response to appeal brief due April 15.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing April 25.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud. Pre-sentencing conference was held April 4. Next hearing scheduled for April 14.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal. Leah’s appeal brief due June 3.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
——————–
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] David Miscavige a no-show as Scientology opens ‘Ideal Org’ in dreary corner of Paris
[TWO years ago] Danny Masterson wanted to delay trial to August: See how Judge Olmedo responded
[THREE years ago] YouTube king, chiropractor Eric Berg, sued for forcing Scientology on employee
[FOUR years ago] Leaked audio: Proof that government officials know about Scientology’s crimes
[FIVE years ago] In the pandemic epicenter, Scientology’s New York Org puts on a fab virtual ‘Sunday Service’
[SIX years ago] Foreign ‘expansion,’ thanks to US Scientologists forking over the millions
[SEVEN years ago] On Day One, 2018’s Writers of the Future party betrays its connection to Scientology’s abuses
[EIGHT years ago] XENU VICTORIOUS: Scientology bamboozles USA Today to help it fight the ‘evil psychs’
[NINE years ago] Phil Jones reflects on the media frenzy at the dedication of his anti-Scientology billboard
[TEN years ago] 25 of the biggest lies told by L. Ron Hubbard and the Church of Scientology
[ELEVEN years ago] SHOCK DOX: Scientology’s 2011 book value for just two of its entities is $1.2 billion
[TWELVE years ago] Narconon Tackles NFL Legend Jim Brown, Anne Archer Snags a Kennedy
——————–
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,227 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,722 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,237 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,787 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,777 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,163 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,658 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,962 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,833 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,385 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,726 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,293 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,212 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,380 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,962 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,221 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,258 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,974 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,538 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,853 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,028 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,710 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,047 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,901 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,016 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,378 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,787 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,185 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,061 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,626 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,137 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,393 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,501 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on April 7, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
As 47 craters the world’s economy, nervous Q patriots urge us to ‘hold the line’
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Trump promised everyone’s net worth would go up and prices on everything would go down if he was elected pic.twitter.com/8kMJ2ijfNQ
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 7, 2025
Hold my place in the breadline. pic.twitter.com/K6qNj2YEY5
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) April 7, 2025
QAnon: Destroying the economy to Own The Libs. pic.twitter.com/SLYlmBscL0
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) April 7, 2025
They’re already picking out fall guys. https://t.co/qbBUKUkUTk
— Travis View (@travis_view) April 7, 2025
Great pic.twitter.com/h16OdV8sTK
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 6, 2025
Wait, didn’t he say the operation was a success and the patient lived? https://t.co/yWHCzS26ym
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 6, 2025
Don Jr attacks the intelligence of those who struggle in Trump’s economy pic.twitter.com/LJ2J5A8OFv
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 6, 2025
Instead of admitting his harmful tariffs are based on faulty data, Trump posted video of himself golfing pic.twitter.com/wJUQBlr5TB
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 6, 2025
More pics of John Stamos at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home pic.twitter.com/njLDGmvsHL
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 6, 2025
Trump won another golf club championship at another one of his clubs pic.twitter.com/LejJXLhyzM
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 6, 2025
Mar-a-Lago fashion pic.twitter.com/zyCbCzfh0V
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 6, 2025
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on April 7, 2025 at 08:00
April 6, 2025
Scientology and the subconscious: A sneaky new approach?
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We want to thank readers who forward us Scientology’s various come-ons to its members. The item we have for you today is pitching the usual L. Ron Hubbard ‘technology’ to an unsuspecting public, but in an unusual way. What does it say about this struggling organization? [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“C/Sing is a happy job itself. And blessed is a C/S who has good standard New Era Dianetics auditors and good Scientology auditors on his lines and a good New Era Dianetics Course Supervisor making new good New Era Dianetics auditors and a good AO somewhere making good new VIIIs, all backed with orgs whose staffs know their Org Exec Course and policy. The C/S’s job only becomes unhappy and impossible when the auditors are nonstandard or the admin people never heard of lines or policy and he himself departs from the straight and narrow of New Era Dianetics and standard tech.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1978
——————–
THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
——————–
THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
——————–
“You will be seeing a lot of this org board. And I’m merely pointing out to you about this, that there is something about it to understand. The first is that the org board does not change regardless of the size of the organization. It may get longer at the bottom, but it doesn’t change in its significant characteristics, departments, divisions or anything else. They remain constant, and it doesn’t matter if it’s a Class Zero Org consisting of three guys trying to lift their heads up off the pavement as an organization, or an organization of 200,000 staff members, it would be the same org board. And I know that startles you, but I almost told you the real figure: two billion. This board has a lot of back history, and it is a refined board. And I may as well tell you the truth here amongst us girls. This is a refined board that I spoke to you about in an earlier lecture of an old galactic civilization. And you say what’s that doing amongst us? Well, we applied Scientology to it, and found out why the civilization eventually failed. They lacked a couple of departments and that was enough to mess it all up. And they only lasted eighty trillion. We’ll be going a lot longer than that, so we want to get something substantial. We don’t want these temporary fly-by-night affairs, you know.” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 6, 1965
——————–
“ARTICLE: MSH has just had a hard hitting article by her published in the British ‘Mayfair’ magazine. SYSTEMS: The IBM Systems Engineers sales handbook is now drawn up using Scientology basic. This is the world’s largest electronic firms. The Moon Rocket and Fail-Safe bomb systems and almost every corporation’s computers are all IBM. I’m sure they’ve forgotten they used to use me in their ads 32 years ago ‘Famous Writer Uses IBM Electric Typewriters’. VALIDATION: When one wishes to help, is trying to help and is brought up sharly, he gets a failed purpose. I’d be very glad to hear how anyone’s effort to help has become invalidated. That’s all we’ve got really — both yours and my willingness to help.” — The Commodore, April 6, 1970
——————–
“It’s been my life goal since embarking onto Scientology to have some kind of knowledge retention or spiritual stabilization that will serve me on the next ‘go-around’ whenever and whenever that may be? Through all my life’s adventures my attention has always been on this! Even moreso, like the late great Chick Corea’s music philosophy reflects, a hope to eventually ‘return to forever.’ If we somehow don’t learn to ‘end cycle’ on our slavery to the body, whatever will our civilization become?”
——————–
2002: Tampa TV Channel 28 News reported on April 5th that a decision has been made by an appeals court that Scientology is trying to drag out the civil case to bankrupt the estate of Lisa McPherson. “A state appeals court has ordered the Church of Scientology to stop harassing the estate of Lisa McPherson. McPherson died while in the care of church staff members, and her family sued the Clearwater-based church for wrongful death. The church filed 47 demands to determine who is paying the family’s legal bills during the suit. The appeals court said that indicates the church is trying to drag out the suit until the family can no longer afford the legal bills.” From the District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District, denying Scientology the right to explore the sources of funds to continue the Lisa McPherson case. “The estate of Lisa McPherson petitions this court to quash a discovery order that grants a request by the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization for production of documents. We grant the writ and quash the discovery order. The challenged order requires the estate to produce the following: All documents concerning the payment by any person or entity since January 1, 2000 of any sum of money over the amount of $500 to the plaintiff or her attorney or any representative or agent of plaintiff, used to pay for any cost, expense, or fee associated with this litigation, excluding payments from Robert Minton and any agreements thereto. We agree with the estate that if the challenged discovery is allowed, it will create irreparable harm that cannot be remedied on appeal. The defendant is seeking information from the plaintiff and its counsel regarding the source of contributions to fund the litigation. As the estate contends, this will create a chilling effect on receiving future funding. Furthermore, the estate points out that if it is forced to disclose how much money it has to spend on litigation prior to the conclusion of the case, the church will know how long the estate ‘can last before it has to throw in the towel due to lack of funds.’ The fact that this is the church’s forty-seventh request for production bolsters the conclusion that the church will litigate until the estate can no longer afford to continue.”
——————–
“Scientology ‘the religion’ is still engaged in medical fraud and could be charged as such if politicians in general had any balls or morals.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. DA’s response to appeal brief due April 15.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing April 25.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud. Pre-sentencing conference was held April 4. Next hearing scheduled for April 14.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
——————–
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] OOH LA LA: Scientology opens its ‘Ideal Org’ in Paris today and we’re on the scene!
[TWO years ago] Dave’s winning streak: Has Scientology made itself lawsuit-proof?
[THREE years ago] The Scientology oversharer goes Clear! Check out this epic graduation speech.
[FOUR years ago] A fight against Scientology ‘disconnection’ now a remarkable illustrated book
[FIVE years ago] Scientology million-dollar donor on COVID-19: ‘Healthy people don’t get sick’
[SIX years ago] Paulette Cooper’s ‘Scandal of Scientology’: The book that made Miss Lovely a target
[SEVEN years ago] Is Scientology really any different than other ‘churches’? Oh, you bet. Here’s one example.
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology disconnection: A toxic policy that punishes innocent people every day of the week
[NINE years ago] Lucia Ribisi ditches Scientology and says of famous dad Giovanni: ‘He’s questioned it’
[TEN years ago] Mike Rowe uses Facebook to rip Scientology over the treatment of his friend Spanky Taylor
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Sydney nears its big day, and Silicon Valley is in high gear!
[TWELVE years ago] One of Scientology’s Early Celebrities: Charlie Manson!
——————–
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,226 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,721 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,236 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,786 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,776 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,162 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,657 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,961 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,832 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,384 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,725 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,292 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,211 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,379 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,961 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,220 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,257 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,973 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,537 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,852 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,027 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,709 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,046 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,900 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,015 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,377 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,786 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,184 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,060 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,625 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,136 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,392 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,500 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on April 6, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
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Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
Libturds have some doubts about the plan, turn out in millions to complain
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Thousands of protesters have flooded the streets of Boston demonstrating in the anti-Trump "Hands Off!" rally. It's one of 1,200 other protests unfolding in all 50 states across the country. pic.twitter.com/jNs7KMwKvB
— ABC News Live (@ABCNewsLive) April 5, 2025
"I have no evidence these protests are being paid for, but I'm going to claim they are anyhow." That's the QAnon way. pic.twitter.com/sEHXv4u8P2
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) April 6, 2025
Trump working hard to make the economy better pic.twitter.com/czPpT2oEH8
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 5, 2025
Trump: “If elected I will destroy the economy”
Kalama: “If Trump is elected he will destroy the economy.”
Voters: “He doesn’t mean it and she’s just saying that to scare us. I am voting for the candidate that is best for the economy and that is President Trump.”
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) April 5, 2025
MAGA influencer “Patriot Barbie” is now selling flat earth necklaces for $72.
She will be a special guest at Charlie Kirk’s young women’s conference in June. pic.twitter.com/eee8DPA77U
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 6, 2025
The person who struggles paycheck to paycheck is more in tune with inflation than the Newsmax host in his comfy office pic.twitter.com/fiRjkaoN6U
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 5, 2025
Fauci is Mother Teresa’s son. No it doesn’t make any sense, just roll with it these people can’t help themselves pic.twitter.com/Z1qe3UNb9F
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) April 6, 2025
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on April 6, 2025 at 08:00
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