Tony Ortega's Blog, page 45
April 5, 2025
After Super Bowl win, is Philadelphia ready for a Scientology victory?
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Philadelphia just can’t stop winning! Scientology continues to make progress on its ‘Ideal Org’ there: fundraising is gathering momentum as a new lengthy flier indicates. We adore these impossibly long fliers that Scientology puts out, and this one does not disappoint! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“It is the fantastic fact that the pc will ONLY get Dianetic wins when receiving standard New Era Dianetics. Non-standardness only once in a hundred will give a case gain and that is a fluke. The Case Supervisor must have good subjective and objective reality on this fact. He must therefore be the ultimate in dictatorial martinet precision in requiring standard auditing and assigning standard C/Ses.” — 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
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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“Sacredity. I think it’s very amusing, if you like to laugh at funerals. I do myself. I do. The last funeral I saw in Kansas, a dead wagon went by, you know, and it was one of these hearses, you know, with the great big plate glass side windows, you know. You could see the coffin in there. Flowers all over it. And here came limousines after it, you know, one after the other. And there were people crying and people sobbing in these limousines. I pulled off to the side of the road, naturally, and I took off my hat. And all this was just automatic, you know, took off my hat. I sat there and watched this thing go by. And car by car my risibility started getting the better of me, you know. I thought here’s this bird, he kicked off, you know, and they shoved this body full of embalming juice, and this bird is sailing around here someplace or another. He probably already picked up somebody in a maternity ward or something of the sort, and he’s long gone, you know, and here’s these birds left with this piece of MEST, you know. And they’re crying and sobbing, you know, and they’re filling it full of flowers and embalming fluid, and going to take it out to the graveyard and erect some stone over the top of it, you know. The unreality of these people and their attitude and what they believed, and what I myself knew for a fact, you see, were so far apart that I’m afraid that by the time the last funeral car had passed, I was just doubled up with laughter. I just can’t take funerals very seriously. I’m sorry. It’s too silly.” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 5, 1962
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“TO THOSE LEAVING
Farewell
God Speed
And Early Return
I thank you
The Sea Org thanks you
And Contribution
To us all.
I know
The good things you’ve done
And good intent.
Forgive the conditions
And any hardship
And carry away
No bitterness
But only pleasant
Memory of Flag.
In appreciation
Gratitude
Farewell
God Speed
And
Soon Return
Love
Ron
April 5, 1969”
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“I’ve audited at least two Jesus Christs and one Ann Boleyn. And a Don Juan, come to think of it, too. I wasn’t entirely convinced by any of them, but of course one doesn’t evaluate or inval.”
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2001: La Prensa reported on April 2nd that Scientology’s ship, the Freewinds, may be inspected for dangerous asbestos levels. “People of the Shipping Inspection expect problems in seriously dealing with the ‘Freewinds’. All buildings and ships built before 1970 were built with asbestos. All plates/panels on roofs are made of dangerous asbestos. According to a functionary of the Shipping Inspection, this is a material which provides good protection from fire. ‘Why should we begin refusing ‘Freewinds,’ when we know that all ships built before 1970 were fitted with that material? Then we would have to refuse the majority of ships,’ according to the statement. Richardson emphasizes that blue asbestos is not dangerous, as long as one does not come into contact with it. ‘We understand that the asbestos on board is in hard, and not powder, form. We will soon inspect the ‘Freewinds.’ We will do this together with Shipping Inspection and the Port Safety Inspection, since these are the the nautical authorities in this case,’ according to Richardson’s statement.”
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“It’s ‘nix’ on ESP and telepathy, but ‘ja’ on Telekinesis and Astral Projection? No reason or rhyme to the mind of Mother Hubbard.”
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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 March 31.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud, sentencing scheduled for April 4.
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] Resurfaced video: An afternoon in 1963 with Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard
[TWO years ago] Eyewitness report: Scientology leader David Miscavige at the LRH Birthday Event
[THREE years ago] Melissa McPhail: A fantasy writer’s travel through time to her Scientology Sea Org past
[FOUR years ago] Former Scientology OT gets indicted on $4 million securities fraud
[FIVE years ago] Whoopi Goldberg recommends Scientology’s drug rehab Narconon on ‘The View’
[SIX years ago] Scientology gets away with abuses because it has friends like author Orson Scott Card
[SEVEN years ago] What do super powers smell like? For around 30 grand, Scientology can help you with that.
[EIGHT years ago] Bryan Seymour: Scientology’s sniffer-dog problem is bad timing for Narconon in Australia
[NINE years ago] After their daughter died at Scientology training, a friend makes off with the funeral money
[TEN years ago] Saturday Night Live’s genius spoof of Scientology: Lyrics and images
[ELEVEN years ago] Jon Atack’s final weekly column for us on Scientology, and it’s a doozy
[TWELVE years ago] Remembering Diane Colletto, Who Would Have Been 60 Today
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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 3,225 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,720 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,235 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,785 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,775 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,161 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,656 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,960 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,831 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,383 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,724 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,291 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,210 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,378 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,960 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,219 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,256 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,972 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,536 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,851 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,026 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,708 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,045 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,899 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,014 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,376 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,785 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,183 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,059 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,624 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,135 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,391 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,499 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 5, 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
Q patriots hang tough with their god-emperor as he torches world markets
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});5 things Trump did this week:
1. Skipped ceremony for 4 dead soldiers
2. Repeatedly tanked the stock market
3. Tariffed an island of penguins
4. Fired thousands from the Centers of Disease Control
5. Left the White House early on Thursday for a long golf tournament weekend pic.twitter.com/1anWpWV0Zf
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 4, 2025
Obama: Imagine if I had done any of this. Imagine if I had pulled Fox News’ credentials from the White House press corps. Imagine if I had said to law firms that were representing parties that were upset with policies my administration had initiated, that you will not be allowed… pic.twitter.com/htecKDCbyi
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 4, 2025
Cruz: Tariffs are a tax on consumers, and I'm not a fan of jacking up taxes on American consumers. pic.twitter.com/4H2A5kdHp7
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 3, 2025
Jennifer Aniston shares cartoon mocking Trump’s tariffs pic.twitter.com/zoWUWdVuoZ
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 5, 2025
New from me, @Payarm18, & @Craigipedia:
Trump on Truth Social amplified a video in defense of his tariff policies that seems to echo a 4chan post that went around in the far right internet previously that claimed that he is purposely crashing the market.https://t.co/qtLgsPg6y4
— Alex Kaplan (@AlKapDC) April 4, 2025
Life comes at you fast! pic.twitter.com/85TpQNbhkG
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) April 4, 2025
Dow Down 2200+ Points
Fox: pic.twitter.com/oxxv7oykHD
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) April 4, 2025
Encouraging words from Trump as your retirement savings tank pic.twitter.com/nnULwYx30D
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 4, 2025
Lots of this “benefit of the doubt” talk about something they all know is suicidal https://t.co/ThD55EyT8l
— Get There (@CentristMadness) April 4, 2025
Nancy Mace declines a certified invitation to attend a town hall while revealing she doesn’t monitor her mail in a timely manner.
Mace claims she is getting death threats from her constituents, and, therefore, voters will only get a town hall “when they calm down.” pic.twitter.com/sZIYEf3yUv
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 5, 2025
Madison Cawthorn to Russell Brand who is facing rape allegations: “Stand strong brother” pic.twitter.com/PzbpJ1ko5w
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 4, 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 5, 2025 at 08:00
April 4, 2025
Scientology and immigrants: A deceptive dance of broken promises
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“Now and then a pc does not understand that he is supposed to be erasing a PICTURE and only goes far enough to erase the somatic. Auditor says, ‘Is it erasing?’ Pc can’t feel somatic so he says, ‘It’s gone.’ Auditor puzzled by no full end phenomena but buys it. What you want to know as an auditor is ‘Is the picture erasing?’ You can use that line to check, but not habitually. Erasure depends… on the pc getting to the BEGINNING of the incident. Sometimes the pc keeps starting a bit late in the incident and so does not get an erasure.” — 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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“A fellow made a postulate. He said, ‘I’m going to square this all up. To be a pirate. That’s what I’m going to do, I’m going to be a pirate.’ And a few trillennia later, he sees a pig going down the road with a ring in its snout. And he faints and has a heart attack. Everybody says, ‘Look at what the hot weather has done to him.’ No! The hot weather might have assisted all this, but who did it to him? He did it to himself Way back down the track he said, to be a pirate. And, of course, pirates wear rings in their noses. There it is. Who did it? He did it. Well now, you can’t go around condemning this person for having done it to himself…you don’t have to blame him if you can eradicate it. Well, all of these causations for his ‘misfortunes’ are initially and basically resident in the GPM. Now, those of yesteryear have actually far more force on him, than those of today. These items here in present time — oh, those items are terribly important. Maybe he’s sitting in something that says, ‘Women who look like beatniks.’ You know? Maybe that’s the oppterm, see…And his wife’s a very neatly dressed girl and everything else and he’s always calling her a beatnik and she never can figure it out and he never can figure it out. And here are these items here, a chronic present time problem…He knows, you see, that the source of his ulcerous condition, you see, is because he eats too much harsh food. No, no. That’s the somatic ‘all women are beatniks.’ And what does he have to be? He has to be a Turk in order to combat this in some aberrated way. Well, there’s his ulcers and there’s his opposition. And he begins to think the whole environment is against him when in actual fact it’s just ‘women are beatniks.’ He sees some uncombed hair, he gets ulcers. Bang, bang, just like that — one, two!” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 4, 1963
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“ENEMY FINANCES: I found Scientologists do not know (and the world sure doesn’t) the size and state of the enemy. For years, our orgs have made more in a week than Swersh does in a year. Two years ago Swersh was 25,000 in debt with little income in sight. Last year it was far worse. Brock Chisholen their world leader, just died, very few key figures are left. Their mouthpiece ‘The Daily Mail’ has just folded and Peter Younghusband who caused the Rhodesian upset has been sacked. We have traced their origins to 2 years before Hitler and have traced the Nazi death camps and Nazi Philosophy to this group. There were not 200,000 members at their peak. So over the world we outnumber even their rank and file 25 to one at a very low estimate. We could buy all they own out of a week’s income and never miss it. Although a few skirmishes or even battles are still ahead of us, there is now no slightest question as to who is winning this war. The Nazi Psychiatrist and Nazi psychologist will most surely go the way of the dinosaur. No, there is no question now as to who will win this war. We will.” — The Commodore, April 4, 1971
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“There are currently three versions for the aplication of Scientology. 1. Anti ex-Scientologists (in our friends lists) applying reverse Scientology tech on USA (California and Democratic states). This is evolving fast into widespread implanting the likes of Gray ET underground/US military bases in the Western USA. 2. Church of Scientology applying a Marcabian version of Scientology (includes the Tax Compliance Offices in OSA). 3. And the standard application of Scientology in the Freezone.”
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2000: Hearings were held this week in both the civil and criminal cases resulting from the death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson. In each case, Scientology was arguing to dismiss the case because of the change in Dr. Joan Wood’s autopsy report from “undetermined” to “accidental”. From the St. Petersburg Times, on proceedings in the criminal case: “‘The entire basis for the state’s prosecution of this case has now collapsed,’ begins one of the many Scientology legal briefs arguing the case should be dismissed. The prosecution is grounded in ‘consuming
prejudice’ against Scientology, the church alleges. Its leading argument for a dismissal: a February ruling by Medical Examiner Joan Wood, who now
says McPherson died from an ‘accident’ stemming from a knee bruise that led to a fatal blood clot in her left lung. Wood once blamed McPherson’s
death on ‘bed rest and severe dehydration’ at Scientology’s Fort Harrison Hotel in Clearwater, but has removed those words from the death
certificate. The church also argues that the prosecution violates Florida law and the U.S. Constitution. Prosecutors, meanwhile, remain adamant that the church should stand trial for the actions of its Clearwater staffers, who tried for 17 days to nurse McPherson through a severe mental breakdown, but who also were present when she died at age 36 on the way to a distant hospital. In the process, prosecutors say, the church abused McPherson and practiced medicine without a license. If Schaeffer denies the church’s request, the focus shifts to a five-week criminal trial scheduled in October. Scientology officials have warned they would free their lawyers to mount an all-out defense that could end up ‘harming the credibility of many persons.’ ‘If we start down that road,’ church official Mike Rinder said recently, ‘the result of it is going to be bad for the city’ of Clearwater. The hearing in downtown St. Petersburg included a rare public appearance by Scientology’s Los Angeles-based leader David Miscavige, who huddled with the church’s lawyers at breaks and passed them notes during the proceedings. Behind him: an estimated 200 local Scientologists, many of whom have written affidavits saying the prosecution of Scientology has burdened the practice of their religion. The overflow crowd spilled into a second courtroom where they watched the hearing on TV. Pinellas-Pasco Chief Circuit Judge Susan F. Schaeffer called the situation ‘highly unusual’ and wondered aloud whether prosecutors could ever get their case to a jury. The allegation of severe dehydration came from Chief Assistant State Attorney Doug Crow, despite a February ruling by Wood that McPherson’s death was an ‘accident’ caused by a blood clot that traveled from her left knee to a lung. Previously, Wood ruled McPherson’s death was caused by ‘bed rest and severe dehydration.’ Crow
said he was perplexed by Wood’s new ruling and said his office is reviewing whether it still has a case. Until then, however, it appears he
intends to press the prosecution. Crow told Schaeffer that Wood ‘continues to indicate’ that McPherson’s 1995 death was the result of medical neglect at Scientology’s Fort Harrison Hotel, where church staffers tried for 17 days to nurse her through a severe mental breakdown. Scientology attorney Eric Lieberman argued that the church staffers who cared for McPherson were engaged in a religious practice called the Introspection Rundown, which attempts to quiet a psychotic person with isolation and vitamins followed by Scientology counseling. The practice is protected from prosecution under the First Amendment and several Florida laws, Lieberman said. He also cited the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which prohibits the government from significantly burdening the practice of religion. Schaeffer questioned the argument, saying: ‘Your position is that your people can be as negligent as they want to be (without fear of prosecution) and that’s kind of a scary proposition.'”
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“Some of my greatest wins have come from applying the ‘you seem kind of tense’ back rub tech. Last thing we want is for the WOGs — a/k/a Women On Guard — to become aware of this wondrous technology.”
——————–
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 March 31.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud, sentencing scheduled for April 4.
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] Need a job, thetan? Scientology’s sneaky business front has your listings
[TWO years ago] Mark Bunker on Scientology’s sneaky plan for Clearwater: It’s dead in the water now
[THREE years ago] Scientology private eye found guilty of contempt after judge sees alleged rape on video
[FOUR years ago] Scientology social media: Does an E-meter count as a concealed weapon?
[FIVE years ago] Scientology, stop being so stupid during the pandemic. We have some advice for you.
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s bogus ‘arbitration’: The Garcia appeal brief is here, and it’s a beauty
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology cranks up its ‘noisy’ investigation of Leah Remini, and she fires back
[EIGHT years ago] David Miscavige: Scientology TV launches by June 21, to show ‘planet’s coolest religion’
[NINE years ago] THE BILLBOARD IS UP: Scientology’s ‘disconnection’ on view in Los Angeles
[TEN years ago] ‘Going Clear’ subject Tom DeVocht visited by Burbank PD after suspicious anonymous tip
[ELEVEN years ago] Video Vault: Hear L. Ron Hubbard unite Dianetics and Scientology in connubial bliss!
[TWELVE years ago] The Secret to Scientology’s “Wins” Revealed?
——————–
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 3,224 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,719 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,234 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,784 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,774 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,160 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,655 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,959 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,830 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,382 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,723 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,290 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,209 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,377 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,959 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,218 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,255 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,971 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,535 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,850 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,025 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,707 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,044 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,898 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,013 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,375 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,784 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,182 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,058 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,623 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,134 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,390 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,498 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on April 4, 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
Markets react to Trump’s tariffs, but he’s got Saudis to golf with
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});The day after “Liberation Day” pic.twitter.com/PMp97izbsg
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 3, 2025
Days before the election, Trump promised “the brightest economic future the world has ever seen.” pic.twitter.com/rHPeMfJ2Ww
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 3, 2025
Reporter: The markets are way down…
Trump: I think it’s going very well. It was an operation like when a patient gets operated on and it’s a big thing. The markets are going to boom. The stock is going to boom. The country is going to boom. pic.twitter.com/UqcRWPOrOp
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 3, 2025
A delusional presumably tariff message from Trump this morning pic.twitter.com/4qxDSL8If4
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 3, 2025
Trump leaves work early to go to his Miami golf club pic.twitter.com/jHUZBrVXiI
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 3, 2025
Trump is heading to his golf course today after 20+ tornados hit Arkansas leaving 30,000 without power pic.twitter.com/H8bGbTYulZ
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 3, 2025
A man’s gotta have a code. Trump’s code is that the Saudis are paying him millions to host the golf tournament, so that’s where he is. pic.twitter.com/3hd5Ay8OiA
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 4, 2025
JPMorgan now says a global recession is more likely to happen than not this year, thanks to Trump’s tariffs pic.twitter.com/RPsCWjTjJU
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) April 4, 2025
Eric Trump is signaling to other countries to bargain with Trump pic.twitter.com/Ptr7VJtMd3
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 3, 2025
Trump is now making personnel decisions based on recommendations from Laura Loomer https://t.co/u4fiu086GP
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 3, 2025
Trump calls attacks on Teslas "terrorism" but privately law enforcement just calls it vandalism, according to intelligence reports obtained under FOIAhttps://t.co/sZCgGPI5fN
— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) April 4, 2025
Yikes pic.twitter.com/Tzksq50nPR
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 3, 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 4, 2025 at 08:00
April 3, 2025
Wow: TWENTY new billboards targeting Scientology going up in LA
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: A year ago, the Aftermath Foundation put up a billboard targeting Scientology just outside its LA compound, but within a few days the church frightened ClearChannel into pulling it down. Well, now, the renamed Michael J. Rinder Aftermath Foundation has come back in a big way! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“A floating needle is the idle uninfluenced movement of the needle on the dial without any patterns or reactions in it. It can be as small as 1” or as large as dial wide. It does not fall or drop to the right of the dial. It moves to the left at the same speed as it moves to the right. It is observed on a Mark V E-Meter calibrated with the TA between 2.0 and 3.0 with GIs in on the pc. It can occur after a cognition blowdown of the TA or
just moves into floating. The pc may or may not voice the cognition. It, by the nature of the E-Meter reading below the awareness of the thetan occurs just before the pc is aware of it. So to give a ‘That’s it’ on the occurrence of the F/N can prevent the pa from getting the cognition.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1977
——————–
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
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});— 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
——————–
“The whole US civil defense system is based on the idea that there is a thing called the government which is composed of people (which already is silly) and they’re going to take over the country at the moment of an attack, see? They aren’t there now. They’re not part of the people, and they’re not human, you see? And they’re parked up someplace in Canada along the DEW line or down in Mexico or out on some island, and they don’t exist there now. And at the moment of an attack, nobody is supposed to do anything but be taken over by the government. That’s what you’re supposed to do in an attack. Consider it absolutely fascinating! It’s just as bad as Eisenhower’s design for the Normandy landing. I mean, there was nothing worse than that. I didn’t know this until the other day. I’m going to write a book on it. I’m going to call it The Great Myth. You see, I was a Pacific amphibious warfare officer before these Normandy landings occurred. And there’s certain ways you’re supposed to make landings. Well, they didn’t make them that way at Normandy. They killed men instead.” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 3, 1962
——————–
“Our trouble has been isolated to the British Government. It uses British Consuls, Lloyds and reporters as part of its intelligence service. It has been revealed that reporters in the UK, particularly those operating outside it, are members of their intelligence service while still being reporters. The US health societies, groups, foundations and agencies are all members of SMERSH which is an English takeover of the work of Clifford Beers to bring protection to mental patients. By blackmail, corruption and pretense of being ‘the very best people’ this group had the British government in its palm. It appointed the health ministers of both parties in England and throughout the Commonwealth and even Switzerland. SMERSH is a world takeover type group, full of preposterous plans. It is now actively destroying western nations whose governments look to them to dispose of malcontents without realizing SMERSH’s degraded technology is violently opposed by Western peoples. If we are careful, keep good security and continue to attack, SMERSH will collapse as they are trying to be a police state without either the police or army on their side. We must be alert to the Intelligence factors of SMERSH and safeguard against their penetration of our security. On our shoulders alone rests the possibility of freeing Mankind from the horror of one of these police states which could destroy Mankind. The rest, like sheep, have been taken in wholly.” — The Commodore, April 3, 1969
——————–
“Parsons was dodgy, and he was murdered because he was dodgy. But more specifically he was a commie. Israel is a commie state, so it makes sense he would pass data onto them. Hubbard was anti-commie. I reckon he was sent in on a mission to disturb Parsons. Years later another agent was sent in to kill Parsons probably because he was getting too out of hands. They didn’t want to just kill Parsons straight up back in ’46, it’s better to know who is your enemy and mess with them for years wasting their time, hence Hubbard’s mission. Parson was making jet-assist take-off for the Navy, so him being dodgy annoyed the Navy, and they would get their naval intelligence to handle him, thus we see Hubbard come into his life. Now this doesn’t mean Hubbard wasn’t into black magick. You can be sent on a mission and enjoy what that mission involves. In fact he could have liked Parsons but knew he was a sicko deep down being a lefty and that he needed to be dealt with.”
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
——————–
1999: The St. Petersburg Times continued its series on Scientology with four additional articles. “While the number of cases Scientology is currently pursuing is down in the United States, a survey of the cases still under way shows a persistence and bitterness on both sides that make it hard for either to walk away. Scientology reacts to the pickets by sending staffers out to confront them and take pictures. Increasingly, Scientologists go out and picket critics’ homes or offices, distributing fliers that accuse them of being ‘religious bigots.’ Some pickets say Scientologists have frightened elderly family members with visits and questions about their picketing. In England pickets travel with a toy dog that wears water wings. They carry signs suggesting that Duke, the dog of Los Angeles Judge Ronald Swearinger, drowned at the hands of Scientology. The church has vehemently denied any responsibility for Duke’s death. Around the clock, from Norway, the Netherlands, Australia and every corner of the United States, the critics of Scientology discuss the controversial organization and its practices. A court decision in Sweden is quickly posted to the news group, followed quickly by a full translation. Daily transcripts of a trial in Northern California are up before daybreak the next day, and news accounts from all over the world are quickly translated and reproduced. Many of those who post messages to the central anti-Scientology news group, alt.religion.scientology, have their own critical Web sites with much more on Scientology. The best known of the critical Web sites is Operation Clambake (http://www.xenu.net), a massive library of information on Scientology operated by Andreas Heldal-Lund, a Norwegian critic who has operated his Web site despite dozens of letters threatening legal action by Scientology. Scientology once attempted to get the news group tossed off the Net but failed. It’s obvious the organization closely monitors the news group because it is constantly turning up in courtrooms with copies of messages that have been posted.”
——————–
“We Farsecians are not evil. We are the Knights Templar of the Universe. We are the Keepers of the ARC of the Covenant.”
——————–
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 March 31.
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] Not so fast: Judge Hammock questions David Miscavige’s challenge to step down
[TWO years ago] WACKY: Scientology flack Ben Shaw’s unhinged letter denying ties to Clearwater developer
[THREE years ago] Another reason to watch the CA supremes: Danny Masterson is petitioning his rape case
[FOUR years ago] The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 3: The judges
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s new attempt to force ‘religious arbitration’ on Danny Masterson’s accusers
[SIX years ago] A stunning Scientology call to arms for our politically divided times on this dirt ball
[SEVEN years ago] Newly released documents: Scientology leader L. Ron Hubbard tried to ‘buy’ an African nation
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology leader David Miscavige launches new personal attacks at Leah Remini
[NINE years ago] David Miscavige and a bussed-in crowd cut the ribbon on Atlanta’s new Scientology ‘Ideal Org’
[TEN years ago] How Scientologists are dealing with the popularity of Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear’
[ELEVEN years ago] We asked David Miscavige’s tailor for his exact height — and here’s what he told us!
[TWELVE years ago] LEAK: Scientology’s Rehab Went from $5,000 to $2.5 Million in Insurance Revenue in One Year
——————–
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 3,223 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,718 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,233 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,783 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,773 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,159 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,654 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,958 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,829 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,381 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,722 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,289 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,208 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,376 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,958 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,217 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,254 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,970 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,534 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,849 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,024 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,706 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,043 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,897 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,012 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,374 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,783 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,181 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,057 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,622 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,133 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,389 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,497 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on April 3, 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 tariffs target libturd penguins and their woke BS
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Trump: At the same time we will establish a minimum baseline tariff of 10% pic.twitter.com/IPEvv5slj0
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 2, 2025
The Trump administration has put a 10 percent tariff on the Heard Island and McDonald which has a population of 0 people and is inhabited only by penguins. pic.twitter.com/KCmb9nBIYD
— WarMonitor🇺🇦🇬🇧 (@WarMonitor3) April 2, 2025
Just figured out where these fake tariff rates come from. They didn't actually calculate tariff rates + non-tariff barriers, as they say they did. Instead, for every country, they just took our trade deficit with that country and divided it by the country's exports to us.
So we… https://t.co/PBjF8xmcuv
— James Surowiecki (@JamesSurowiecki) April 2, 2025
Grok's definitive consensus on Trump's tariff announcement: "The Liberation Day tariffs will be bad for the U.S. economy. They will increase consumer prices, spark trade wars, slow growth, and risk recession, with benefits (e.g., manufacturing gains) too uncertain and distant to… pic.twitter.com/bPfrRqDaW2
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) April 2, 2025
Bessent: I would advise none of the countries to panic. I wouldn't try to retaliate because as long as you don't retaliate, this is the high end of the number. pic.twitter.com/VlqqabdhtJ
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) April 3, 2025
In October while running for president, Trump promised that his tariffs would “not cause inflation.” pic.twitter.com/IyQGqDCUAB
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 3, 2025
Karoline Leavitt believes Trump is responsible for a spiritual revival taking place in the country pic.twitter.com/q1DNuQEwnD
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 2, 2025
This is a Twitter/X ad displaying QAnon figure JoeM's content about the conspiracy theory. One of those videos ("the plan to save the world") was known for introducing and popularizing QAnon when it was originally on YouTube. https://t.co/Gp946nJGUh
— Alex Kaplan (@AlKapDC) April 3, 2025
You give a guy an Epstein binder… pic.twitter.com/Qqso2fJFnZ
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 3, 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 3, 2025 at 08:00
April 2, 2025
Slimy Scientology attorney asks Clearwater for its Mike Rinder records
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Scientology attorney and Snow White unindicted co-conspirator, Kendrick Moxon, long employed for taking care of unsavory tasks, has submitted a request with the City of Clearwater asking for correspondence with Mike Rinder now that Mike has passed away. We have more details. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“Every once in a while you get a Scientology result while running Dianetics. Also, sometimes you get a Dianetic result while auditing Scientology. This tends to keep the two distinctly different subjects confused with each other. A preclear. after Dianetic auditing, tells the Examiner he is exterior and feeling fantastically bright. This is a Scientology result. Sometimes a Scientology preclear after attaining a grade will state that it has healed his terror stomach. This is a Dianetic result. There is nothing whatever wrong with this except that it gives an auditor an invitation to confuse the subjects and think they are the same. The clue is CONSISTENCY.” — 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({});
——————–
“Now, if you were to duplicate teeth on a preclear, you just say, ‘All right. Now, let’s duplicate teeth.’ And he starts duplicating teeth, teeth, teeth, teeth, teeth, till he gets lots of teeth, lots of teeth, lots of teeth. First thing you know out of this big pile of teeth which he’s gotten out there, he’ll start to get the emotion ‘Whee! Let’s all be teeth. Let’s fill the whole universe up full of teeth. Everything’s got to be teeth.’ Well, of course this is the central motive as far as teeth are concerned. Everything must duplicate teeth. Any object has this as an obsession. It must be duplicated. If it goes downhill it gets down to a point, finally, where, of course, it must not be duplicated, which is it must hide, withdraw, get very small, be hard, compact.” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 2, 1954
——————–
“I hope no desperate casualties resulted from the APRIL FOOL OOD. All Fools Day originated when they changed the Gregorian Calendar in 1564. The first day of the year was April 1st before then. When New Years Day became January 1st, those who persisted in celebrating it as April 1st became targets. It originated in France where they are called APRIL FISH and went to Scotland where they are called APRIL GAWKS. Through the English speaking world it is APRIL FOOLS. All from a PR stunt to teach the new Calendar! So when Al Bornstein, FAO PR wrote up an April Fool OODs with Geoff Barnes and Gorman the Management carried out a reversal even on them. In the Immortal Words of Product Officer FAO Amos Jessup, ‘Anyone who was taken in by that OOD had better review his Data Series!’ So would the FEBCs do a Data Analysis on that April Fools OOD as an exercise. Self preservation demands they be able to recognize real OUT POINTS when they get back to their orgs. People were in stitches over the results of the joke, so I hope no bruised feelings remain.” — The Commodore, April 2, 1971
——————–
“I want to do a Purif but I’ve had soo many drugs pumped into me as a sick child, I’m so scared. I mostly want to do a Purif because of how many psych meds I’ve been on. I actually just got out of a 72-hour psychiatric hold and I still feel weird from all the drugs they pumped into me.”
——————–
1998: The St. Petersburg Times ran a story this week on Scientology’s growing attempts to influence Washington politics. “After years of holding the U.S. government in contempt, the Church of Scientology is enlisting members of Congress, the U.S. State Department and even President Clinton to advance its agenda in foreign lands. Prodded by the Scientologists’ paid lobbyists and its cadre of sympathetic entertainers, several lawmakers and the Clinton administration have criticized the German government for allegedly discriminating against Scientology practitioners. They even got their argument against Germany to the floor of the House of Representatives last November. The lobbying push comes amid an ongoing criminal investigation into a suspicious death of one of its parishioners at Scientology’s Clearwater headquarters – the latest in a history of controversy involving the church. That history includes convictions of 11 Scientologists on charges stemming from break-ins of government offices in the 1970s. Scientology has used lobbyists in Washington in the past, but in the years since the IRS ruling the organization has stepped up its lobbying effort. Records made public last week show that Religious Technology Center, a Scientology affiliate in Los Angeles, paid almost $725,000 to a Washington-based firm to lobby Congress in 1997 and 1996. David H. Miller, the managing partner of Federal Legislative Associates, said members of Congress initially were skeptical about his client and its checkered past. ‘What I’ve said to members is, ‘That’s all bulls—. That’s all extraneous. Let’s talk about the facts,’ he recalled, though he concedes: ‘What they are trying to do is live down some of their past mistakes.’ Miller, 50, is a former congressional aide who has been a lobbyist for 18 years. He and his firm represent clients such as the American Bankers Association and American Airlines. He is not, he said, a Scientologist. Miller, the lobbyist, said he has gradually tried to build a foundation of support that gives Scientologists’ claims of discrimination credence in Washington. The biggest victory in that regard has come from the U.S. State Department, which criticized the German government for its treatment of Scientologists in its annual human-rights report.”
——————–
“Why would Scientologists feel love for each other? According to Hubbard they are just random thetans occupying random meat bodies. Your children aren’t really ‘your’ children. That’s one of the reasons it seems so easy for some Scientologists to disconnect. Your relatives are merely other pod people.”
——————–
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 March 31.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud, sentencing scheduled for April 4.
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 and the Great American Eclipse, 2024 edition
[TWO years ago] Tampa Bay Times identifies developer acting as Scientology’s front in Clearwater
[THREE years ago] Academic forum caves to scary Scientology attorneys, spikes our presentation
[FOUR years ago] SNL produced the best parody of Scientology ever — and then hired a Scientologist
[FIVE years ago] Scientology is dying to keep you well from the pandemic it doesn’t believe in
[SIX years ago] Thetans in the Jungle: Scientology in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands
[SEVEN years ago] Mike Rinder: Scientology is ‘disappearing at a consistent unchanging unwavering rate’
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology for your plants? In the grand tradition of L. Ron Hubbard, yes!
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s demonology: Where L. Ron Hubbard got the idea for your space cooties
[TEN years ago] Robert Vaughn Young on L. Ron Hubbard’s final days — another ‘Secret Lives’ video outtake
[ELEVEN years ago] Florida attorney Ken Dandar hit with $1 million penalty for taking on Scientology
[TWELVE years ago] Why Isn’t Scientology More Open About Its Space Opera Beliefs? It’s the Best Part!
——————–
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 3,222 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,717 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,232 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,782 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,772 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,158 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,653 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,957 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,828 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,380 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,721 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,288 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,207 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,375 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,957 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,216 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,253 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,969 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,533 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,848 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,023 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,705 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,042 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,896 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,011 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,373 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,782 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,180 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,056 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,621 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,132 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,388 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,496 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on April 2, 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
Musk can’t buy election in Wisconsin, but Trump copes best he can
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Susan Crawford has won a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, defeating Brad Schimel. pic.twitter.com/u71nOAqzhk
— VoteHub (@VoteHubUS) April 2, 2025
Surprised the lowball vote buying effort didn’t work pic.twitter.com/S4fBfYpqqL
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 2, 2025
Anti-MLK advocate Charlie Kirk opened a field office in Wisconsin, shipped in tons of out-of-state help, and still lost Brad Schimel’s Supreme Court race
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 2, 2025
So much coping pic.twitter.com/ncImayQ862
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 2, 2025
Senator Cory Booker concludes his record-breaking Senate Floor speech after 25 hours
Massive applause for Booker pic.twitter.com/nOcn3RNwXH
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 2, 2025
Booker: Strom Thurmond’s record always kind of just really irked me. That the longest speech on our great Senate floor was from someone who was trying to stop people like me from being in the Senate. So to surpass that became more important to me. pic.twitter.com/Yhw8AtmIln
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 2, 2025
SCOOP: White House officials are studying the costs of taking over Greenland, attempting to determine price-tag to maintain & what revenue could be gained, per sources
Government officials working on Greenland
W/ @FedGirlWaPo @natalie_allison @michaelbirnbaum
— Jeff Stein (@JStein_WaPo) April 2, 2025
Morley: I think you’re confusing Roger Stone with Oliver Stone
Boebert: I may have misinterpreted that. I apologize pic.twitter.com/88qWWhUKkX
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 1, 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 2, 2025 at 08:00
April 1, 2025
Scientology doc David Minkoff tries to argue out of lawsuit, Bunker will be watching
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Notorious Scientology doctor David Minkoff’s response to being sued in the death of Whitney Mills was that it wasn’t fair for legit physicians to condemn him, the lawsuit should have quoted ‘alternative’ quacks like himself. He’s in court today, and Mark Bunker will be watching. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“Scientology is a vital practice in itself. It places a person above any further illness or suffering. But he has to be made well first. People will ask, ‘Deafness? Now what special process is needed in curing deafness…. ?’ his is one of the modern refinements of Dianetics. One runs whatever is assessed on the preclear. with preclear interest. He doesn’t decide to cure somebody of deafness. He handles the illness or disability the pc offers up that reads on the meter and has pc interest. Maybe it will be deafness.” — 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({});
——————–
“OK, and this is the 1st of April 1954, little more on simple procedures, basics. The problem which the auditor faces is a very simple problem. That’s what makes it so difficult. He has a human being who is out of present time. Ordinarily this is the target of the auditor, although you can use auditing on cats, dogs and horses, and so forth. As a matter of fact, I was auditing a horse the other day. Got him into present time, too. It’s very easy to audit a horse. All you make him do is reach for you and you retreat until he feels good and dangerous. And his spirits will come up and he’ll be in present time enough to be rid.” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 1, 1954
——————–
“OVERTS: In the interests of more truth on board, anyone feeling nattery should write up their overts and witholds and post them on the crew’s notice board with a copy to me. Hiding the real reasons behind natter roughs it up for the rest of us. We are after all a true group. Truth is the basis of group ARC.” — The Commodore, April 1, 1970
——————–
“I don’t know if the movement started by Bill Robertson could be considered to be a reform. The original tech and admin of LRH is preserved, but some modificaton was done to the OT levels and they were expanded beyond OT VIII. This is the most high-toned ‘reform.’ The Bill Robertson bridge is an example of a positive alternative. In fact Capt. Bill Robertson states in a video that the Ron’s Org is an alternative path for when the government SPs block Scientology for the people and reserve it for the rich few. With the IRS inside OSA, and Chairman of the Board David Miscavige in charge of the GAT inquisition, it is more than clear that the OT levels have been blocked. Then there is the most extreme reform ever. Which in a sense is a kind of bypass. Sky Bunny has posted that he comes from the future, where Scientology tech has been developed to levels where it is now possible to create new games. In these new games the flubs of a reactive mind have been avoided and a new game is being created now. So, in this case, it doesn’t matter what happens to this universe and game. A new one using Scientology tech is being started. This one being notified to take advantage of that reform. And this with the ‘authority’ of Maitreya.”
——————–
1997: Lars Westergren posted a transcript of a show on Scientology from BBC World. “Buildings like this aren’t cheap. Scientology founds itself by a doctrine of exchange. Members can pay thousands of dollars to complete all their courses, in payments that are called donations, but are in fact obligatory. Few churches prompt more antagonism than this one. A Greek judge has called Scientology dangerous. The German government says that its financial demands can read to ruin and even suicide. But here in America, critics are more concerned with the Church of Scientology’s relentless bid, for public recognition. David Rodier is a professor of religion at American University. ‘They feel if you attack they attack in kind, and perhaps even more violently. And I think many people find this very threatening. New religions are by their very nature strange and odd, and we feel uncomfortable around them. And then when they, in addition to that, don’t behave according to our stereotypes the way religions should behave, then we _do_ get very uncomfortable.’ Sylvia Stanard: ‘The church has dealt with criticism, because we feel that people need to know what scientology is. And its also just – sociologically it is a very interesting phenomena that all new religions go through this. I mean, we’ve researched and gone through what they said about the Catholics in the 1700s, and all sorts of _wild_ accusations. I mean, the Mormons were killed. And that was a hundred years ago.'”
——————–
“Better to be pissed off than pissed on.”
——————–
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 March 31.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud, sentencing scheduled for April 4.
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] Flying under the radar: Scientology’s unexpected reprieve in Russia
[TWO years ago] PODCAST: John Sweeney stops by to chat about Scientology’s ‘dark nonsense’
[THREE years ago] Surviving Scientology’s Sea Org for children was a nightmare of parental abandonment
[FOUR years ago] Izzy Chait, renowned art dealer and major Scientology figure, dead at 74
[FIVE years ago] Scientologists are convinced that they can rescue the planet from deadly pandemic
[SIX years ago] Sword-wielding, Bentley-driving man killed by police at Scientology org identified
[SEVEN years ago] Scientologists are trying to convince each other that the new TV network is a roaring success
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology’s spies: L. Ron Hubbard’s twisted legacy that proved his sickness
[NINE years ago] Augustine: One weird trick every Scientologist needs to learn for real ‘total freedom’
[TEN years ago] CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST SCIENTOLOGY DRUG REHABS IN CALIFORNIA
[ELEVEN years ago] Hey, you guys, the new Scientology E-meter is a hit!
[TWELVE years ago] LEAK: Narconon’s Legal Affairs Director Admits No Scientific Basis for Advertised Success Rates
——————–
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 3,221 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,716 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,231 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,781 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,771 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,157 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,652 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,956 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,827 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,379 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,720 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,287 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,206 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,374 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,956 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,215 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,252 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,968 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,532 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,847 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,022 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,704 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,041 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,895 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,010 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,372 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,781 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,179 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,055 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,620 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,131 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,387 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,495 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on April 1, 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
Clowns in the White House deport wrong man to El Salvador hell prison
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});NEW: In a court filing this evening, the Trump administration said that it had mistakenly deported a Maryland father to a notorious Salvadoran prison due to an "administrative error." pic.twitter.com/e5cOcR1W0W
— Yoni Appelbaum (@YAppelbaum) April 1, 2025
Did this end with Kid Rock getting shot out of a cannon? pic.twitter.com/6piLaarBVW
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 1, 2025
DOGE demanded full access to a US Department of the Interior system that handles even the Supreme Court's paychecks. When top staff asked questions, they were put on leave. https://t.co/9xGlPdlWPv
— WIRED (@WIRED) March 31, 2025
Right-wing influencer and Elon Musk baby mother Ashley St Clair sells her Tesla to Carvana amid their child support feud, in perhaps the most obviously staged for the paparazzi video ever. https://t.co/edbhZ1s5TX
— Will Sommer (@willsommer) March 31, 2025
Breaking: Virginia Roberts Giuffre — the key figure in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking scandal — is fighting for her life after she was in a car accident in Australia. (Story to be updated as more info becomes available.) https://t.co/xHqi2GPuc8
— julie k. brown (@jkbjournalist) March 31, 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 1, 2025 at 08:00
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