Tony Ortega's Blog, page 46
March 31, 2025
Linkin Park’s Emily Armstrong expresses a very Scientology-like sentiment
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Linkin Park was criticized for hiring Scientologist Emily Armstrong after the band’s previous singer, Chester Bennington, had struggled with depression before ending his life. And now, Armstrong provides a reminder of how Scientology feels about the mental health profession. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Ideas build up which halt the use of Dianetics, such as ‘Once you have a floating needle on engrams you don’t run them anymore.’ That’s silly. The Dianetic end phenomena is postulate off, F/N and VGIs. This means that the chain has blown. That full EP can then be called the end of that chain. But not the end of Dianetics on the case. I am not trying to make anyone wrong by reintroducing the real use of Dianetics. I myself had not realized how separate and vital it was as a technology until recently. I was engaged for many years researching and completing Scientology. I had not noticed and had not said that Dianetics must be preserved and used in all cases of psychosomatic illness or in physical suffering. Yet, during all this time when I had to handle illness, I did not use Scientology. I used good old Dianetics.” — 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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“We pick up somebody. Let’s say he’s a Marine captain or something, and we’re auditing him. He’s been a Marine years ago. Obviously, this person is no mystic. This person is no spiritualist. He knows nothing about these things. Let’s audit him, and get through, and so forth. And we audit him for about five hours, and he’s making very slow progress. And he’s liable to ask you at the end of the five hours if you really think his guardian angel approves of the techniques you’re using. Don’t be too alarmed if you hear such a reaction, because there’s practically 100 percent of the populace, one time or another, have been mixed up with spirits, spiritualism, mysticism or any one of the allied lines by which man has sought truth and has gotten booby-trapped. This Marine, you find out, served a long hitch in Santo Domingo. And all the time he was in Santo Domingo he was talked to continually by a mamaloi. Otherwise, this boy’s been sane ever since. He receives all of his directions from a witch doctor, or a witch. Yeah, he’s been ordering troops around on the advice of a witch doctor for years. This is not uncommon. Because a thing is not spoken about is no reason it doesn’t exist or isn’t known. And that’s a good rule for you to go on.” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 31, 1954
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“My thanks to S. Moreau, R. Savage, Gerry Armstrong, and H. Harrison for helping on a voluntary basis cleaning up Fwd Tween Decks and Storage and mest moving in Hold 1 last night. L.H. 2 has been cleaned and restowed. Anyone littering or enmesting the area of any hold space will be dealt with severely by Ethics. These spaces (as well as all ship spaces) must be kept neat, clean and secure.” — Capt W.B. Robertson D/Captain FSO, March 31, 1971
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“You kind of just put body thetans in their place. See, they come at you full of light, sometimes as powerful beings. THAT LIGHT IS YOURS! Tell them, and take it back. And it kind of spins around and they blow as entities. Anyway, they do blow, it will vary from case to case. I never have any difficulty with them. Maybe a bit of SRT in the past somewhere can kick it all sideways? I don’t know, I just keep my eyes on the horizon. It’s true there are lots of very interesting areas to get sidetracked into. But this is the way to failure in solo auditing. Keep on the path and audit it off, don’t go into something because it seems exciting. That can hurt you and get you pretty mixed up. I keep in mind all I want is charge off. Between sessions that helped me stay focused. It doesn’t mean I don’t write my own side notes, cognitions, and odd phenomena experienced on the way. But I never let it pull me off just getting charge off. You can look at the whole thing afterwards, as there are many, many cogs to be had. But getting charge off gives them.”
1996: An anonymous person this week posted the partially recovered contents of a floppy disk he found in Tampa. “important symbolic step towards Clearing the Planet, the Church of Scientology announced today it has obtained regulatory approval for a new satellite television network. Transmission is expected to begin in the the third quarter of 1996. The new satellite service, tentatively called KSWN (for ‘Keeping Scientology Working Network’), will broadcast Scientology and Dianetics news and technical programming 24 hours a day on two transponder channels. The second, scrambled, channel will consist of Scientology and Dianetics course material and training films, many of them produced by the late L.Ron Hubbard himself. Programming on the scrambled channel will be available to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis.
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“Hubbard thought ‘1984’ was a How-To manual.”
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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] Yet another celebrity ‘first’ spotted in Scientology event press releases
[TWO years ago] Scientology propaganda is the best thing ever, and we are here for it
[THREE years ago] Hanan Islam, 62: Faced felony counts for insurance scam run out of Scientology clinic
[FOUR years ago] The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 4: The LAPD
[FIVE years ago] Mark Bunker, now as city councilman, confronts issues with Scientology on day one
[SIX years ago] Scientology is putting Ideal Orgs in every country where it operates — except one
[SEVEN years ago] A Scientologist is running for lieutenant governor in Nevada — and it’s who you probably suspect
[EIGHT years ago] Jonny Jacobsen: The tweets about Scientology that got a comedian in hot water
[NINE years ago] Reason Rally 2016 in Washington DC: The Underground Bunker wants to see you there!
[TEN years ago] Can you help French prosecutors find these witnesses to the death of a Scientologist?
[ELEVEN years ago] Paris elects its first female mayor — and you have to see her record on Scientology!
[TWELVE years ago] Easter Sunday Funnies — Also: Our SMERSH Madness Championship!
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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 3,220 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,715 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,230 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,780 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,770 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,156 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,651 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,955 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,826 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,378 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,719 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,286 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,205 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,373 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,955 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,214 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,251 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,967 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,531 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,846 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,021 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,703 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,040 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,894 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,009 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,371 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,780 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,178 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,054 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,619 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,130 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,386 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,494 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 31, 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
Elon pays for votes in Wisconsin as Tesla remains a flashpoint
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“Anyone Who Doesn’t Like Me Works for George Soros: An Airhead Rightwinger’s Guide to Political Debate” https://t.co/ivuIFwWBtG
— hannah gais (@hannahgais) March 31, 2025
Stephen Miller complains that the Constitution is tyranny pic.twitter.com/GiaIHqXXlB
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) March 30, 2025
NEW: An ACLU filing sheds light on how "Andry," the gay make-up artist sent to rot in a prison in El Salvador, ended up labeled "Tren de Aragua" by ICE.
Documents filed by ICE shows that the ONLY evidence ICE listed for membership in TdA was a tattoo of a crown with "mom" below. https://t.co/KDBcNopYTo pic.twitter.com/xnaCYUrjev
— Aaron Reichlin-Melnick (@ReichlinMelnick) March 30, 2025
The Holocaust deniers who have given up Trump are now really cranking up the hatred. pic.twitter.com/uyCdXpK4gV
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) March 31, 2025
How exactly would a crippling recession usher in a golden age of prosperity? The math ain’t mathing. pic.twitter.com/mKNc57i8Yh
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) March 31, 2025
This pro-Tesla protester didn’t see the contradiction in holding a “We 🩷 DOGE” sign while wearing a “I 🩷 the Constitution” shirt pic.twitter.com/jL2tM2P3Io
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) March 30, 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 March 31, 2025 at 08:00
March 30, 2025
Tom De Vocht takes on Scientology’s draconian confidentiality contract!
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Tom De Vocht let us know he was stunned by the Scientology Sea Org confidentiality agreement that we posted yesterday, and sent over his line-by-line critique! It is really great to have Tom back making waves. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“You use Dianetics much the way you would use any remedy. When a fellow is burned you audit out the burn. When a woman loses a loved one you audit out the loss. When a young man can’t finish his schooling you audit out his unhappy school experiences. Dianetics is for USE. There is not a lot of admin about it. It isn’t something you use after bowing down three times to Chicago. You just USE it. A Dianetic auditor who sees someone sick and who doesn’t get him treatment and then audit him is just not humane. Woman going to have a baby—get out the meter and audit her into shape for it. When she’s had it, run out the delivery. Fellow burns his hand, break out the meter. Dianetics is the answer to human suffering. USE it.” — 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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“I don’t think ever in my life I even ever held out my hand for a fee. I don’t ever mention it. I’ve even acted sometimes as Registrar for an organization that didn’t have anything to do with money and people would walk in occasionally and throw some money on the desk and I’d invoice it so they could have a receipt. I gave it to them so they could have a receipt, not so I could have any money. Now, that’s about the wildest look you ever saw! I remember auditing some people in the early days and we never talked about money and they got embarrassed after a while and they gave me several thousand dollars. That’s a reverse look, isn’t it?” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 30, 1965
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“The hot water on A deck is tepid.” — The Commodore, March 30, 1970
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“I see two main kinds of critics. Those that critique Scientology and want a reform, and those that critique Scientology and want to disappear it, or agree with disappearing it. I think it’s time to examine the systems on this planet, because Scientology is a system, and the real government running this planet is another system, and there are other systems like the pretended political systems governing ‘democratic’ countries. LRH stated that Scientology was the most ethical system on Earth. This statement only makes sense if it is compared with the other systems: Critics wanting to unmock (destroy) Scientology but fail to analyze the other systems in the same framework. So far, my analysis of the other systems (including the one running this planet) has shown that Scientology is the most ethical system of them all. The others fall far from being ethical at all.”
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2002: The Los Angeles Times published an article in the Sterling Management and the World Institute of Scientology Enterprises. “The ‘Battlefield Earth’ videos, ‘I am a Scientologist’ poster and numerous pictures of L. Ron Hubbard make it clear that Sterling Management isn’t a typical consulting firm. The company is one of about 100 in Glendale, Montrose, La Crescenta and La Canada Flintridge that practice the organizational principles of Scientology. In fact, Sterling Management’s business is to promote and teach the organizational principles of the church to small business owners across the country. Hubbard, founder of Scientology and a science fiction writer and philosopher, developed what is referred to as his ‘management technology’ for the religion’s expansion. Sterling Management owner Kevin Wilson and the other owners of local companies use the management practices as members of the World Institute of Scientology Enterprises – WISE. WISE licenses and promotes Hubbard’s work to businesses for the Church of Scientology, WISE President Don Drader said. About 3,200 WISE members around the world pay anywhere from $250 to $36,000 per year for membership. Most WISE members are Scientologists, but it’s not required, Drader said. James Ryan, an EEOC public affairs specialist, said he wasn’t aware of WISE, but organizations are entitled to use religious principles in the workplace, as long as employees have the option to object and be excused. Wilson said he is aware of employee discrimination law and that he stays within its bounds. ‘This job has nothing to do with Scientology,’ Wilson said. ‘In no way can I dictate anyone’s job with Scientology.’ Wilson makes sure his company’s clients are aware of the relationship between his business and Scientology, too. All Sterling Management clients sign a waiver before entering into the consulting relationship, Wilson said. The waiver states that the Hubbard management materials imply ‘no religious affiliation whatsoever.’ It also states a Sterling consultant may recommend a client see a Scientology practitioner, if the client has personal problems beyond the scope of Sterling Management.”
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“The first time I heard about people having to pay for being sec checked I was gobsmacked. OT 7’s have to get sec checked every 6 months to the tune of twenty grand or thereabouts. Imagine if the cops started charging people to be interrogated? Without a lawyer!”
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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:
— 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?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology will appeal ruling in Leah Remini lawsuit that preserved most of her claims
[TWO years ago] Life as a Scientology ‘Flag auditor,’ bending the minds of Neil Gaiman and others
[THREE years ago] Scientology is unhappy the Danny Masterson accusers are sticking up for Valerie Haney
[FOUR years ago] Another Scientology success story: Real Water liver failure lawsuits proliferate
[FIVE years ago] Scientology tries desperately to keep members from letting reality sink in during pandemic
[SIX years ago] Leaving Scientology’s ‘Sea Org’ isn’t easy, and some turn to desperate measures
[SEVEN years ago] Georgia police department closes its case on Arnie Lerma attempted murder-suicide
[EIGHT years ago] Dungeons & Dragons and Scientology collide: Can we get a saving throw on that engram?
[NINE years ago] Scientology leader David Miscavige in Atlanta on Saturday: Can you feel the excitement?
[TEN years ago] AUDIO LEAK: Hear a Scientologist being declared suppressive and facing the loss of her family
[ELEVEN years ago] Sunday Funnies: These fliers should convince you to give all your cash to Scientology!
[TWELVE years ago] Independent Scientology: The Ballad of Captain Bill
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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 3,219 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,714 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,229 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,779 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,769 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,155 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,650 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,954 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,825 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,377 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,718 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,285 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,204 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,372 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,954 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,213 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,250 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,966 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,530 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,845 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,020 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,702 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,039 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,893 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,008 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,370 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,779 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,177 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,053 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,618 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,129 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,385 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,493 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on March 30, 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 busy this weekend preparing the Epstein files for release
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});David Barton of Wallbuilders was with Trump in the Oval Office this week.
Barton’s group argues against the separation of church and state. pic.twitter.com/UtvKDhBrmF
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) March 30, 2025
Trump has tasked JD Vance to “remove improper ideology” at the Smithsonian Museum and the National Zoo pic.twitter.com/36oe0Xiq2k
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) March 30, 2025
Trump won another golf tournament at his own golf club. pic.twitter.com/9qAUsK2vwf
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) March 29, 2025
Not taking out Hitler? pic.twitter.com/MZbGTPw7Jn
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) March 29, 2025
FEDERAL SPENDING SURGES
Despite chaos caused by Trump, Musk, and DOGE, federal spending is on pace to come in 7.4% higher this year than last.
The federal government has spent $1.893 trillion in 2025 as of March 26, compared to $1.763 trillion at the same date last year.…
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) March 29, 2025
A Texas children's hospital is now treating children for vitamin A toxicity after RFK Jr. touted the vitamin as a measles treatment. https://t.co/5Ok8ogvC1R
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) March 29, 2025
NEW: Hacker Aubrey ‘Kirtaner’ Cottle has been arrested and charged for the 2021 breach of the Republican Party of Texas https://t.co/wfgC7xlWFx pic.twitter.com/Zg7PKboxjr
— Mikael Thalen (@MikaelThalen) March 29, 2025
Trump working hard to release the Epstein files pic.twitter.com/HtZkL83PnD
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) March 29, 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 March 30, 2025 at 08:00
March 29, 2025
Join Scientology’s inner hardcore and sign your life away — here are the terms
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We got our hands on a contract Scientology’s Sea Org workers sign, promising to keep their mouths shut about all of the horrendous things they’re going to be seeing as billion-year slaves in David Miscavige’s ersatz navy. Keep your traps shut, swabbies! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“It is very much easier to train a Dianetic auditor than a Scientology auditor. It requires only about a month to make a Dianetic auditor who is sufficiently conversant with the subject to get results. This too was used against Dianetics as the psychiatrist of that day claimed he himself needed twelve years of study to do psychiatry. Of course when the public found out that the product of these twelve years of study was killing the ‘insane’ and increasing their number the argument became silly. The spectacular personal gains which were available in Scientology were so great they tended to obscure the very real use and value of Dianetics. Further, a Scientology executive trained and processed beyond the need of body help tended to forget that much of the public out there first had to be helped out of their physical misery before they could attempt anything like personal gain.” — 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({});
——————–
“Let’s take CCH 1, ‘Give me that hand.’ It could have possibly also — I am not saying you should run it with this command, but you — ‘Reach me. Reach me. Reach me.’ You get the similarity here? See, PC really is at cause, see? You could just say, ‘Reach me.’ And make sure that he did and it would be quite interesting. I don’t advocate that you fellows do this, although once in a while, some squirrel auditor develops some technology by which he can use Scientology to make a girl more accessible. Now personally, I find it difficult to understand this, because I myself, you see, have never needed Scientology! I don’t waste a brag, but I just want to point this out. Here you have a situation where that’s a poor show. But you actually could take a girl and have her reach your right knee and your left knee and your right shoulder and your left shoulder and your nose and the top of your head and your right hand and left hand. And every now and then, ask her how she feels about you. And if you don’t flatten the process, just about the time this thing goes into the plus state, she’ll tell you she’s mad about you, she thinks you’re wonderful. That’s right.” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 29, 1962
——————–
“There is not one person aboard, swabbie, snipe or clerk who is not vital to maintaining our presence on Int lines either by keeping the ship running or safe or actually pushing comm pkgs or admin actions. To the several million Scientologists in the world our presence is felt even when it is only quietly acting within orgs over the world. There’s an awful lot of lightning and thetan power in this theta line and everyone on board is contributing to it. Whatever the grease on your nose or the callouses on your ball point finger you are helping to keep this line in existence and contributing your energy and actions to pushing it through. Next time you’re tired or upset — remember that.” — The Commodore, March 29, 1970
——————–
“Max Plank indicated the area of research by stating that in quantum physics it is consciousness that is found underlying all of that physical phenomena. L. Ron Hubbard was trained not only in atomic and molecular phenomena (nuclear physics) and engineering, but also in magic, the Veda and all that stuff dealing with life and consciousness. This indicates the character of the real 21st century scientist, one knowledgeable in quantum physics as well as magic, the Veda and oriental knowledge, including — oh gosh! — the work of Aleister Crowley, anathema and excommunicateable offence! There’s a bright side to all of this for me. This shows what kind of people is excluded from making critiques to Scientology and 21st century real science. Those excluded from making critiques are all the atheist matter-is-all-that-exists scientists in universities, exhibiting their degrees in the wall and running in their squirrel cages. This also excludes (and this is most satisfying) all the masters and doctors in all top universities who are not trained in physics and atomic and molecular phenomena! My advice for them is to get out of their squirrel cages and start walking a real path on those subjects, including civil engineering.”
——————–
2001: The New York Times reported on an ABC television special which included a segment on Scientology celebrities John Travolta and Kelly Preston. “On Barbara Walters’ preshow special there was one revealing moment when John Travolta and his wife, Kelly Preston, tried to explain why they are enamored of Scientology. Ms. Preston said, ‘Scientology rocks!’ Obviously what rocks in Hollywood is different from what rocks anywhere else.”
——————–
“I rarely ever downvote comments. I do downvote rude comments and drive-by comments by Scientologists (or people pretending to be) who are too chicken to hang around and argue their beliefs. If a real Scientologist showed up here and seriously debated their beliefs with someone, I wouldn’t downvote them.”
——————–
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] Leah Remini files notice: Let Judge Kalra handle BOTH Scientology harass cases
[TWO years ago] Judge Olmedo rules: Here are the details from the rulings on Danny Masterson’s retrial
[THREE years ago] How Danny Masterson’s criminal judge has iced out Scientology leader David Miscavige
[FOUR years ago] Jokes aside, there is quite a bit of crossover between QAnon and Scientology
[FIVE years ago] ‘PROTECT THE ORG’ is Scientology’s highest purpose says new edict
[SIX years ago] Scientology ‘body-routing’: When no one wants what you’re selling
[SEVEN years ago] Leah Remini on Scientology’s stalking — nothing is going to stop her third season of ‘Aftermath’
[EIGHT years ago] SCIENTOLOGY TV: It’s really happening! Spectrum blocks out a channel for Miscavige
[NINE years ago] Scientology pampered some of its big donors with a trip back in time to Phoenix in 1954
[TEN years ago] LIVE-BLOG: Watch Alex Gibney’s HBO documentary ‘Going Clear’ and comment with us
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology answers the Garcias — And turns over a trove of internal documents
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology’s Job One: Saving the Whales
——————–
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 3,218 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,713 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,228 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,778 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,768 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,154 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,649 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,953 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,824 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,376 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,717 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,284 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,203 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,371 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,953 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,212 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,249 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,965 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,529 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,844 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,019 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,701 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,038 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,892 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,007 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,369 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,778 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,176 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,052 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,617 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,128 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,384 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,492 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on March 29, 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
Another killer week in the books for Q patriots to celebrate
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});5 things Trump did this week:
1. Defended leaking war plans over Signal
2. Took away Elise Stefanik’s promotion
3. Tanked the stock market again
4. Left work early on Friday
5. Protected the Epstein files for another week pic.twitter.com/znbM9Uw9Jb
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) March 28, 2025
NEW: Judge Brinkema UNLOADED on ICE's "evidence" of TdA membership:
"This is a terrible, terrible affidavit. If this were before me in a criminal case and you were asking to get a warrant issued on this, I'd throw you out of my chambers."
This is why due process matters! https://t.co/491CQpBsDc pic.twitter.com/R3TrqlE2eS
— Aaron Reichlin-Melnick (@ReichlinMelnick) March 28, 2025
"DOGE won’t just fall short of Musk’s deficit-reduction goals. It will, in all probability, increase the deficit. Probably by a lot."https://t.co/C0u1XntCyX
— Scott Stossel (@SStossel) March 28, 2025
Per @kenklippenstein's leaked State Dept doc ordering agents to monitor all student visa holders' social media posts, evidence that someone has criticized the US government on social media can lead to a finding that they are a terrorist.
Totally unprecedented. pic.twitter.com/mcw8AzSzb8
— Eric Lee (@EricLeeAtty) March 28, 2025
NEWS
A federal judge blocks the removal of Tufts University PhD student Rumeysa Ozturk pending a ruling on her habeas petition.
Doc https://t.co/WQHHGldStx pic.twitter.com/W4lLfwn70b
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) March 28, 2025
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – Utah has become the first state to ban fluoride in drinking water as Republican governor signs new law.
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 28, 2025
An apparent new defense & conspiracy theory going around the far-right of the "Signalgate" incident within the past day is that the CEO of NPR is also on the board of the Signal Foundation.
There's no evidence that she had anything to do with what occurred in that chat group. pic.twitter.com/fgaWKH1GSE
— Alex Kaplan (@AlKapDC) March 28, 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 March 29, 2025 at 08:00
March 28, 2025
Scientology’s next ‘Ideal’ grand opening revealed: Dave’s on his way!
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The fliers have gone out, and Scientology leader David Miscavige will most likely be on hand to preside over the grand opening of his latest ‘Ideal Org,’ this time in South Africa. Or will he? A local correspondent explains why she has her doubts that Dave will risk it. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“Pilots audited with Dianetics, by a test involving a whole squadron, went without a single even minor accident for the following year. Scientists audited with Dianetics have greatly improved intelligence. Dianetics raises IQ as a side product to usual auditing, at a rate of about one point of IQ per hour of processing. Withered limbs, skin blotches and rashes and even blindness and deafness have all responded to Dianetics. Possibly the point which counted most against Dianetics in the early attacks on it was that it did a vast array of things. The truth was, it actually did them. When you have the answer to the human mind as in Dianetics of course anything caused by the mind can be remedied.” — 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({});
——————–
“It’s an interesting thing that there exists on Earth a cult which believes a hundred percent that it has the only god there is in this universe. And this is quite an interesting thing. See, this is terribly interesting. Anybody who says he has a total monopoly on all there is of something, which you can’t weigh, see or measure, is suspect. Christianity’s gain in the world and its departure from its own announced principles were in the main in the direction of control…It is not even a major group today in European and American spheres of influence. It keeps telling you that it is, but it isn’t. The majority of the white races today are not members of the Christian church. And there are about ten times as many Buddhists. Oh I don’t know, two hundred times as many Buddhists or something. Rather overwhelmingly big. But that was an effort to control. And an interesting effort to control, because when it failed in its own basic tenets it then departed from its basics. And our quarrel with it is, that in practice it isn’t what it says it is. That’s our only quarrel with it. It is something that tries to appear one way when it is something else.” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 28, 1957
——————–
“NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER go near a British Consul in any port we are in for passport renewal or any other reason. Send the person to another port we don’t use. The Corfu trouble has been traced by our Missionaires to FORTE the Corfu British Consul who told the most vile and fantastic lies about us such as the H&W men were now in an insane asylum in Athens! That we poisoned wells and did black magic. We are suing him there and also will kick it back to England. The whole Corfu incident was censored out of Greek press and has not hit International Press. So no ports know of it. Which is okay. But let that be a lesson to us about British Consuls. So that’s how they lost their empire! 3rd Party specialists. By the way they supply arms to both sides of the Biafra conflict and both sides in the Israel-Jordan Suez war! Also, by the way, an official protest was made by the Panama Consul General in Athens to the Greek govt. And so Panama is on our side. Also the Nomarch is being removed in Corfu. Hah! But the people there are terrified of arrest so we’re pulling our Mission out. We won after all.” — The Commodore, March 28, 1969
——————–
“What happens when the newly emerging Tyranny, Monarchy and Dictatorship of TechnoScientoMathematical Authority gets tied into the Money, Finance and Appreciation of our Americanosophic Allusions in Libertarianism, Capitalism and Altruism? What happens when the newly evolving ‘pandemic effects’ ripple across the infrastructures of education, healthcare and transportation, and prompt further autonomous depersonalized postmodernizations in need of more worthwhile interactivity and integrativity going forward?”
——————–
2000: The Tampa Tribune published an article describing Scientology’s point of view on the death of Lisa McPherson and the subsequent criminal and civil cases. “Lisa McPherson wasn’t an easy charge. She kicked people, stood in a toilet and claimed to have created time. Fellow Scientologists called her psychotic but shuddered to think how a psychiatrist might treat her. On the 17th day, McPherson died. Her body, not her troubled mind, had betrayed her, seizing her breath with a blood clot that lodged in her lungs. Around the world, an echo sounded: ‘Scientology Kills.’ Church attorneys likened the prosecution to a witch hunt. Newspapers and television stations beat the drum. Critics galvanized, ready to hurl hostility at a religion they couldn’t fathom. Strangers spit at Scientology staff, clients boycotted Scientologist-owned businesses, and Scientologists’ children were mocked at school. ‘This is America. This is supposed to be the land of religious freedom,’ protests McPherson’s former friend and employer, Bennetta Slaughter, who sent a daughter away to boarding school to get her out of the frenzy. Then, in February, four years after McPherson’s death, the state’s case turned sour. Wood backed away from her findings. She signed an amended death certificate and left for a convention without explaining. She deleted ‘bed rest and severe dehydration’ as causes, removing a link to McPherson’s caregivers. Instead, she wrote about the bruise on McPherson’s left leg. Prosecutors allege that Scientology staff held McPherson down while force-feeding her food, vitamins, minerals, herbs and medicines, from simple aspirin to a sedative prescribed by a doctor who didn’t see her until she was dead. The penalty for conviction: fines of up to $15,000. ‘It has cost a very considerable amount of money, and obviously the issue here isn’t a $15,000 fine. The issue is this attempt to stigmatize the church,’ Rinder says. He questions why, if prosecutors suspected wrongdoing, they didn’t simply charge the individual Scientologists who took care of McPherson, instead of going after a church, a move without precedent. He figures it’s just an attempt to discredit Scientology. Scientology holds that man is a spirit and basically good. Psychiatry begins from a premise that man is an animal and must be restrained. ‘Forcing a Scientologist to receive psychiatric services would be like forcing an Orthodox Jew to eat pork or forcing a devoted Catholic to have an abortion,’ Scientologists Kendrick Moxon and Helena Kobrin wrote in a legal brief filed on behalf of church members. The issue comes up in court files to explain why McPherson did not voluntarily remain at Morton Plant Hospital for psychiatric evaluation. Instead, she left with church friends, including case supervisor Alain Kartuzinski. Now, critics of Scientology hold memorials and rally around her name. That bothers church members. ‘When Lisa McPherson was alive,’ says Rinder, the Scientology board member, ‘they would have spit on her.'”
——————–
“I laugh when Scientologists state that Scientology has nothing to do with faith or belief, and that it doesn’t involve a belief in the supernatural or paranormal. Yeah, spirits, reincarnation, telekinesis, astral projection, demons (body thetans) have nothing to do with anything like that!”
——————–
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] Val Ross: After the FBI raid, what it was like to return to work there — as a Scientology spy
[TWO years ago] Here’s the prosecution’s witness list for the Danny Masterson retrial
[THREE years ago] No, Will Smith was not high on Scientology when he slugged Chris Rock at the Oscars
[FOUR years ago] Scientology social media: The gang’s all here, let’s clear the planet!
[FIVE years ago] This is Scientology’s plan for bringing good ‘hygiene’ to your door
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s Narconon drug rehab expansion plans DENIED in Maryland and Michigan
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology TV was launched with a massive ad campaign — is it working?
[EIGHT years ago] Lawrence Wright goes to Nazareth; or, how Reza Aslan drove us into the arms of L. Ron Hubbard
[NINE years ago] Scientology at Comic Con: An attempt at a minor intervention, as told by Phil Jones
[TEN years ago] On the eve of ‘Going Clear’, Leah Remini says she’s grateful to the people behind it
[ELEVEN years ago] Ted Babbitt’s gambit: Recasting the Garcia federal fraud lawsuit against Scientology
[TWELVE years ago] In Dianetics, the Uterus is a Frightening Place — ALSO: Nation of Islam Boosting Involvement?
——————–
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 3,217 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,712 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,227 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,777 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,767 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,153 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,648 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,952 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,823 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,375 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,716 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,283 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,202 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,370 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,952 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,211 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,248 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,964 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,528 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,843 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,018 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,700 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,037 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,891 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,006 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,368 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,777 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,175 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,051 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,616 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,127 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,383 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,491 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on March 28, 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 era bingo: Who’s getting nabbed off the street today?
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});No. No. No. No. No. https://t.co/ylO0JyrhY7
— John Sweeney (@johnsweeneyroar) March 27, 2025
NEW: Judge Boasberg ordered the Trump administration to preserve Signal messages sent between March 11-15, part of a federal lawsuit related to Signalgate revelations
w/ @joshgerstein https://t.co/PQErxCHLGE pic.twitter.com/5uaIkcx0hm
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) March 27, 2025
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/U8wUTq6un9
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) March 27, 2025
LOL, The Atlantic cabinet coup pic.twitter.com/0eyVVuFEE7
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) March 27, 2025
NEW: "Q" has been dormant for years, but the Signal scandal shows how the style of QAnon – grandiose claims followed by escalating excuses – has been embraced by Trump's inner circle.https://t.co/Siy8x9z7Fc
— Mike Rothschild (@rothschildmd on blu sky) (@rothschildmd) March 27, 2025
Probationary nominee Elise Stefanik loses new job pic.twitter.com/PY0P2YGqYR
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) March 27, 2025
10,000 more jobs to be cut by Trump /DOGE pic.twitter.com/m9utROYafj
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) March 28, 2025
My new MSNBC column calls out the Trump admin’s reliance on national security arguments to assert and expand its authoritarian power grabs and retaliatory misuses of power. Meanwhile, the admin is slashing things that actually keeps us safe.https://t.co/U7G38e53Xo
— Jared Holt (@jaredlholt) March 27, 2025
Getting hyped over the impending nothing happening on April 2nd seems to be the new hotness in QAnon. pic.twitter.com/ETwfrM8SgS
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) March 27, 2025
QAnon John has thrown in the towel. He no longer Trusts The Plan. pic.twitter.com/y21Go8DD6i
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) March 27, 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 March 28, 2025 at 08:00
March 27, 2025
Leah Remini unveils a lovely and fitting tribute to Mike Rinder in Clearwater
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Yesterday, Leah Remini revealed an inspiring location for a bench that has been dedicated to Mike Rinder in Clearwater, Florida. And what made it even better was the memory that it jarred loose from a former Scientology slave who began his journey out on that very spot. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“Chronic, which is to say, long-term illnesses cease when audited by Dianetics and then medical treatment, which was earlier ineffective. Whole classes of ‘mentally retarded’ children have been made more normal by teachers in London County Council schools using relatively unskilled Dianetics. Tiredness, unwanted sensations, bizarre pains and aches, bad hearing or sight also routinely respond to Dianetic processing. The sickness and death rate of persons who are part of Dianetic groups is only a small fraction of that of other groups.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1978
——————–
THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
——————–
THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
——————–
“The art of Sec Checking is very, very well established. It’s one of the finest arts that we have. But it is to a large degree an art. It is restimulating the material to be picked up. And then picking it up….All right, now we’re going straight into the questions here, and the first question I’m going to ask you is: Do you know any communists personally?” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 27, 1963
——————–
“Our ship has become rather shabby. We are improving that fast. We are improving our crew appearance. We are getting a lot done. We have a lot to do. We have gone through a period of floods of new recruits. They aren’t new recruits any longer. Do your own job with initiative, snap and pop and we’ll make it all the way. We right now have lots of good, able people. We have a lot of good, effective programmes. We can make a go of it all right.” — The Commodore, March 27, 1969
——————–
“We apply LRH tech to genuinely help people and many of us have done this for decades. It seems to me that the admin here is more fixated on controversy than any real and genuine interest in helping people improve conditions in their lives or in the world. So unless I see some immediate improvement in the quality of his posts, which evidently I don’t expect, I shall be exiting this group in the near future. This group is a front for the admin’s unresolved controversies and undermining the integrity of the Independent Scientology Field and those genuine Independent Scientologists who dedicate their lives to helping people improve their lives by applying LRH principles, daily, weekly, monthly and year on year, consistently over time.”
1999: The St. Petersburg Times published two articles on the litigation history of Scientology. “When prosecutors filed charges in the death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson, the Clearwater-based Church of Scientology – the defendant – had one clear response: The litigation will be ‘complex’ and ‘voluminous’ and will require ‘a significant number of hearings and significant hearing time.’ Those words should echo ominously for Pinellas County prosecutors. In a 14-month, worldwide survey, the St. Petersburg Times has documented a consistent pattern of church officials’ relentlessly pursuing its critics in legal actions that some charge are designed as much to harass as to achieve legal victory. In one year alone, the Times has found, Scientology spent more than $30-million on legal and professional fees. From critics outside the church to former members who sue for fraud and abuse, when Scientology goes to court, most often it is with lawyers and legal papers that can overwhelm less wealthy opponents. In France, England, Sweden and Germany, the pattern is similar: sue the critics, sue the government, and sometimes overwhelm the judges. Whenever necessary, use private investigators to probe your opponents’ weaknesses and exploit them. In two days of interviews, officials from the Church of Scientology and five of its lawyers answered a wide range of questions in an effort to combat the church’s reputation as litigious, secretive and closed to scrutiny. Continually citing the 1993 IRS decision to grant the church tax-exempt status, they compared their operations with mainline church denominations, including the Catholic Church, and compared their litigation history with that of the St. Petersburg Times. ‘History has vindicated us on every front,’ Rathbun says. ‘We are at the turn of the millennium. A lot has changed, across the rest of the United States and the rest of the world when you say you’re from the Church of Scientology, you immediately get respect.'”
——————–
“In a country that supposedly has 3 million-plus Scientologists they could only muster a few hundred in Portland. How much more farcical can this crap get before the remaining few wake up and screw?”
——————–
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, awaiting sentencing.
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.
— 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.
——————–
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] As David Miscavige restored Scientology’s events, here are the celebs who showed up
[TWO years ago] DA wants Toronto woman to testify as fifth accuser in Danny Masterson retrial
[THREE years ago] Scientology wants you to forget Laura D got her files because 259 ‘ministers’ had access to them
[FOUR years ago] Why the upcoming ‘prelim’ is a nightmare for Danny Masterson — and for Scientology
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s founder: ‘WE are going UP while the world is coming down!’
[SIX years ago] The Mike Rinder bobblehead: Turning the tables on Scientology’s smeary harassment
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s secret vaults get their star turn on the new TV network, and it’s nutty!
[EIGHT years ago] Reza Aslan’s ‘Believer’ episode about indie Scientology lived down to all expectations
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s European mouthpiece speaks at DC event honoring Marco Rubio
[TEN years ago] ‘Going Clear’: Spanky Taylor on John Travolta, Priscilla Presley, and escaping Scientology
[ELEVEN years ago] Belgium will try two Scientology organizations and 10 Scientologists for fraud
[TWELVE years ago] LEAKED AUDIO: David Miscavige Declares Scientology’s Golden Age at LRH Birthday Event
——————–
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 3,216 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,711 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,226 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,776 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,766 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,152 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,647 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,951 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,822 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,374 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,715 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,282 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,201 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,369 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,951 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,210 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,247 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,963 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,527 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,842 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,017 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,699 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,036 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,890 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,005 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,367 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,776 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,174 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,050 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,615 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,126 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,382 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,490 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on March 27, 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
Club champ can’t imagine group chat leak more important than upcoming weekend foursome
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});From Fox’s Chief National Security reporter. Who can’t seem to get any airtime lately. For some reason. pic.twitter.com/kPgZWgUFl6
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) March 27, 2025
Why would the President want to stay on top of a possible leak of classified information? He’s got tariffs to promote and golf to play. https://t.co/IWvYY96xQD
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) March 26, 2025
Trump says PBS, which makes educational programs like WordGirl, “should be defunded.” pic.twitter.com/WNlOT3zAUs
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) March 27, 2025
Elon says Trump’s tariffs hurt Tesla pic.twitter.com/IZGuQXfI51
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) March 27, 2025
It appears that Kristi Noem may have worn a $60K Rolex during her visit to the El Salvadoran prison camp today. pic.twitter.com/5QWfqzrtzN
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) March 27, 2025
Elon Musk announces he has given away $1 million for signing his PAC’s petition in support of Brad Schimel.
How is this legal? pic.twitter.com/u59tJwTWIb
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) March 27, 2025
NEW from me: Remember when RFK was talking about wellness farms for people w/ mental illness? Turns out they’re kind of a real thing— and they’re terrifying. I investigated the peculiar US history of “wellness farms” for @NYMag https://t.co/CVjnN696CY
— Ej Dickson (@ejdickson) March 26, 2025
The FBI is turning itself into online rent-a-cops for CEOs, spying on social media posts it considers threatening to corporate executives, per new FBI assessment obtained under FOIA.https://t.co/MLMpoXUcpo
— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) March 26, 2025
The QAnon to Nazi pipeline is something that needs to be talked about. While Trump is in office we're going to see a lot of people get upset with Trump's failures to crush all his enemies and save the world from the Deep State. This is where the Nazis step in. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/52T9iEyu1J
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) March 26, 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 March 27, 2025 at 08:00
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