Tony Ortega's Blog, page 54
February 19, 2025
After RHONY, Rebecca Minkoff back to promoting Scientology’s sneaky front groups
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Rebecca Minkoff walked away from Bravo’s ‘Real Housewives of New York’ after a less-than-stellar run as a ‘friend’ of the cast in the show’s 15th season, but it looks like she’s bouncing back by returning to what she knows so well… Promoting Scientology’s sneaky front groups! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Three SPs, now declared, some years ago had a mutual understanding that they would not put down each other’s withholds. These three also falsified auditing reports to the effect that they had run certain things on pcs ‘and there was nothing on them,’ when in fact they either had not run them or there was reaction which they did not put into the report. They messed up about a dozen people before they were caught and it took many, many hours of careful C/Sing and auditing to salvage those cases (and it also took about two years). They made several hundred serious enemies for themselves and today I doubt any Scientologist would even speak to them and their names are remembered with scathing contempt.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1976
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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’re not in the business of whether people are crazy or not crazy. It’s just a method of calling dirty names anyway. The psychiatrists have no idea who’s crazy and who’s sane, and so forth. It’s just a matter of saying, ‘This fellow’s no good, and the US government wants to get him out of the way so he’s crazy.’ It’s just a matter of expediency. It says en masse, ‘We don’t agree with this particular person. He sees spiders on the ceiling and we don’t. Therefore he’s crazy.’ Has nothing to do with anything we are doing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Just forget those classifications. We don’t care how potty this guy’s ideas of the physical universe are, you know, he just might have come down here from the Martian scout command or something like this, and they probably have very, very odd ideas, you see? The quality, the significance of the fellow’s ideas are no business of the auditor’s.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 19, 1963
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“Recently Flag was divided into 3 separate orgs. The Flag Bureaux (FB), the International Management Org was the first to be formed fully. It is the FOUNDING Org of the other two. It is doing very well and has stats rising in most areas and is heavily in the Mission business. Its colour flash is GREEN. The Flag Admin Org (FAO) is the Service Org. It trains, processes and handles Finance. It has the pattern of the standard 7 Division Organization. It is the ESTABLISHING ORG. The FAO flash color is RED. The Flag Ship Org is the ship itself. It consists of the usual yacht organization functions of Command, Deck, Stewards and Galley and Engine Room. The Ship Org Flash color is BLUE….To summarize the FB is running excellently, the tech and training of the FAO is tops. Finance FAO is going in well. By constant personal work and lots of help, I have these points in hand. Now the three numbered points above must occur and every effort, including very heavy Ethics, will be made to bring them into existence. Your cooperation will be appreciated.” — The Commodore, February 19, 1971
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“A friend of mine had cancer that just vanished with auditing. The most I’ve had so far is about a year ago I was getting some auditing and I got sick. We located the suppressive terminal and it totally blew, which I thought was pretty cool. It would be cool to have a book of this stuff, sort of like the format of Have You Lived Before This Life. Maybe it doesn’t immediately cure every physical illness, but there are enough ‘miracles’ that it would be hard to deny there is something to it.”
1998: Keith Henson provided an update on the Lisa McPherson civil case against Scientology. “[T]he CoS tried to argue that they have the right to kill their members because of the First Amendment. The judge was not one bit sympathetic to this argument. Ken did have to withdraw Dr. Minkoff as a defendant for a while because Florida requires 90 notice to physicians before you can add them to a malpractice suit. Ken argued that Minkoff’s contributions were not medical, but a criminal attempt to cover up at least negligent homicide, but the judge said to do it by the books and consider Minkoff a doctor, for now and that Ken should put him back in after the 90 days are up.”
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“Confiscating people’s passports is a classic Eastern European sex trade/slave tactic. It doesn’t get more obvious and sinister.”
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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 February 24.
— 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.
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After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology’s Sea Org: Almost no pay and no sleep, but plenty of swearing and smoking!
[TWO years ago] Celebrity Sunday: John Travolta, Anne Archer, and ‘rising star’ Joy Villa
[THREE years ago] Valerie Haney asks court for reconsideration after Scientology defeat in Masterson case
[FOUR years ago] Transcript: In the Danny Masterson lawsuit, Scientology continues to get its way
[FIVE years ago] California is going ‘Ideal,’ and Scientology is on fire about it
[SIX years ago] Leah Remini accuses former Scientologists of sabotaging an episode of ‘Aftermath’
[SEVEN years ago] Atack: What David Mayo told me about L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology, and the upper levels
[EIGHT years ago] Disconnecting from the dead: Another employer accused of forcing Scientology is taken to court
[NINE years ago] DOX: A former L. Ron Hubbard business partner dishes on Scientology to the feds
[TEN years ago] HBO moves back ‘Going Clear’ to March 29 and TV’s most coveted spot: Sunday night
[ELEVEN years ago] SCIENTOLOGY’S PRAYER: The Hail Mary petition to keep David Miscavige from being deposed
[TWELVE years ago] SUPER POWER UPDATE: Scientology Has Even More Excuses Not to Open Its Boondoggle
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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 3,180 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,675 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,190 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,740 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,730 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,116 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,611 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,915 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,786 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,338 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,679 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,246 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,165 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,333 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,915 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,174 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,211 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,927 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,491 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,806 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,981 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,663 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,000 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,854 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,969 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,331 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,740 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,138 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,014 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,579 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,090 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,346 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,454 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 19, 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 says we have a ‘very corrupt country,’ and should take millions off of Social Security
Some links to Q-related items today
Scoop: DHS Sec. Kristi Noem warned employees that polygraph tests will be used to help crack down on leaks that agency officials say have foiled immigration raids. All polygraphs must include a Q on unauthorized communication with media and nonprofits https://t.co/qXjAV1UijW
— Ellen M. Gilmer (@ellengilmer) February 18, 2025
Thank you! Once again Elon (the richest man on earth) is taking on corrupt elites (baseline workplace safety rules) https://t.co/U2lMC5thLw
— Adam Johnson (@adamjohnsonCHI) February 18, 2025
NEWS: A veteran prosecutor resigned Tuesday after what she said was pressure from DOJ leaders and US Attorney Ed Martin to launch a criminal probe into a Biden-era climate program without sufficient evidence.
w/ @joshgerstein @alexcguillen @Chemnipot https://t.co/3jraDPvMoP
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) February 18, 2025
DOGE is beyond fake. Fake, lazy and mindlessly racist all rolled into one. https://t.co/308ZwMafMn
— Adam Johnson (@adamjohnsonCHI) February 18, 2025
MAGA ally and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro “agreed to a plan to poison President Lula as part of an attempted coup to remain in power” says top prosecutor.
Why is MAGA BFFs with this guy? pic.twitter.com/6Eo4XpsnzY
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) February 19, 2025
“A very powerful Social Security” he says things the way a 5 year old does and our media refuses to talk about his obvious cognitive decline. https://t.co/EM33ZTnLAE
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) February 18, 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 February 19, 2025 at 08:00
February 18, 2025
Scientology staff scores with a new all-star: Pro dunker Connor Barth!
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Although plenty of evidence suggests that Scientology is struggling to staff its facilities as it dwindles in general, it does still manage to rope in a few suckers — er, new hopefuls who believe that they’re helping to clear the planet. And look at this new catch in Orlando! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“Many years ago I developed a system called ‘Prepared Lists.’ These isolated the trouble the pc was having in auditing without taxing anyone’s imagination and sending the auditor into a figure-figure on the pc. These prepared lists were assessed on an E-Meter. One took up the biggest read first and then cleaned up all other reads. Time has gone on. The system of prepared lists has been expanded to include not only pcs but students and staff. It may have gone overlooked that such lists now include anything that could happen to a pc or student. In other words, prepared lists have become very thorough.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1976
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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 just had a phone call from California, by the way: A girl who was on the handbook — fifteen hours, really, on the handbook, running it through — went down to a secretarial course (never seen a typewriter before), sat down and read the chart, spent ten minutes reading the chart, sat down at the typewriter with blank keys and started writing at twenty-five words a minute. Here sits an atom bomb. That atom bomb is a complete threat to this whole society, culture, your body, your civilization.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 18, 1952
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“REGRET: I am sorry that Ethics has to be stepped up. But each day a few more omissions land on my desk. The FSO and FAO have not formed up and the FB and myself are having to carry the load.” — The Commodore, February 18, 1971
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“LRH cared a lot. He had four staff answering his letters in accordance with his instructions — I knew them and saw the confidential issues. I remember one thing particularly that showed his caring. A staff member was in love with a girl and went psychotic when she married another man. He started sticking his fingers into electric sockets until he collapsed. The Guardian’s Office had him offloaded and put into a psychiatric hospital in the USA. LRH heard about what they had done and ordered them to have him extricated from the hospital and brought back to the Apollo. When he arrived back LRH C/Sed his case daily ensuring that he was brought back to sanity. He was given a simple job for a while after he was sane again and then chose to leave the Sea Org.”
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1997: Jeff Jacobsen and his family came under additional harassment this week, with a visit from a Scientology private investigator and two pickets. “As I type this, Eugene Ingram, Scientology private investigator, is in South Dakota visiting my father’s business establishments, asking questions about me. It is a written practice of the church to noisily investigate someone that they are upset at. I was warning my neighbors that there might be private investigators hanging around the area again. One neighbor then told me that 2 women were picketing my house a few nights ago about 9:30pm. The neighbors told the women to leave or they’d call the police, and they left. The Scottsdale police told me that there is a law against picketing in a residential area here. Tonight as every Friday night I went to my dj’ing job at the All Singles Dances. I went out to see about 20 or so people walking along the hotel property next to a busy major street (speed limit there about 45 mph). I remember 2 signs; one said ‘Jacobsen sued his family!’ and another said ‘Jacobsen sells XXX rated videos.’ I asked the guy holding the first sign what that meant since I had never sued anyone in my life. He said ‘you’ll have to ask that guy’ pointing up ahead to someone or other. I guess he didn’t even know what his own sign was about! My father has video rental stores in South Dakota, one of which won an award for best store in the state. He does rent x-rated videos, as well as Disney and everything else in between. Do you see what they’re doing? Rather than address what is on that page, they go after my family! Can you think of anything more despicable? I heard that after about 45 minutes of picketing the hotel called the police. The police told the picketers they were interfering with the hotel driveway (they had been marching right through the entryway) and also were distracting traffic and setting up a situation where someone driving by would likely be rear-ended while trying to read the signs. So the picketers left.”
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“I was just ruminating that Manson probably got the idea for ‘creepy crawl’ from some Scientology experience.”
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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 February 24.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud, awaiting sentencing.
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.
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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] Love, Scientology style: How hard can it be to find a Clear date?
[TWO years ago] PODCAST: Mark Ebner joined Scientology for two weeks and we’re still recovering from it
[THREE years ago] Clearwater deal: Scientology leader David Miscavige will finally get parcel he covets
[FOUR years ago] Scientologist and accused Ponzi schemer learns government has 13 MILLION documents on him
[FIVE years ago] In Scientology’s Sea Org, the terror originates inside your own head
[SIX years ago] Is Beck divorcing Scientology along with his wife? Here’s the evidence for and against.
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology opened an ‘Ideal Org’ in Salt Lake City yesterday. We have its secret plans.
[EIGHT years ago] Augustine: Why is it so hard to find a Scientologist in good standing?
[NINE years ago] David Miscavige wastes no time once the stay is lifted in Monique Rathbun’s lawsuit
[TEN years ago] TAMPA SHOWDOWN: Scientology’s religious exception faces mini-trial today
[ELEVEN years ago] Going three feet back of your head: Scientology’s Original Operating Thetan Level Six!
[TWELVE years ago] Tom Cruise Under Oath: We Have His Deposition Questions!
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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 3,179 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,674 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,189 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,739 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,729 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,115 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,610 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,914 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,785 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,337 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,678 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,245 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,164 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,332 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,914 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,173 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,210 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,926 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,490 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,805 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,980 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,662 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,999 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,853 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,968 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,330 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,739 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,137 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,013 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,578 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,089 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,345 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,453 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on February 18, 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
DOGE learning about government as it whacks it, and libturds howl
Some links to Q-related items today
Going great! pic.twitter.com/mpxZ6mLH40
— Talia Jane ❤️🔥 (@taliaotg) February 17, 2025
Trump is bringing people back to religion! More and more people are praying and making peace with God before they board planes.
— Travis View (@travis_view) February 17, 2025
“The DOGE people are coming in with absolutely no knowledge of what these departments are responsible for,” said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association https://t.co/dnOCMmJr1s
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) February 17, 2025
Love to have a shadow president who is running but not officially running an organization full of unqualified college students gutting the federal government and firing tens of thousands of people on a whim; while the "actual" president rambles about shower flow and sharks. https://t.co/e5zodfTLsX
— Mike Rothschild (@rothschildmd on blu sky) (@rothschildmd) February 18, 2025
Over the weekend, Trump's DOJ made this claim in defending DOGE's constitutionality: DOGE and Elon Musk do NOT have “authority to make decisions for the U.S. government.”
They just have "influence" in giving "advice," the govt claims. https://t.co/WLNMOnrd30 pic.twitter.com/f14GMtfPOD
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) February 17, 2025
Musk is an unelected, unconfirmed private citizen with access to classified information, financial systems, and federal policy decisions—all while running companies that directly profit from government contracts. This is corruption, plain and simple. https://t.co/dWh1lFpfv8
— Senator Megan Hunt (@NebraskaMegan) February 18, 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 February 18, 2025 at 08:00
February 17, 2025
RFK Jr.’s ties to Scientology’s sordid past, and his unity on its goals today
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Earlier this week we told you about OT Scientologists at the Kennedy Center and in the Ukraine talks, and now we have to bring up the involvement of Scientology and its anti-psychiatry goals in regards to the country’s highest health official, the newly confirmed RFK Jr. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“We’re not in the business of curing psychos. The governments at this writing pay the psychiatrists billions a year to torture and kill because of R/Ses they don’t know anything about. The crime in the society out there is caused by people who R/S. Stalin, Hitler, Napoleon and Caesar were probably the most loaded R/Sers of all time unless it was Jack the Ripper or your local friendly psychiatrist. So know what you are seeing when you see it and know what to do about it. And don’t kid yourself. Or vilify or mow down people who R/S; we’re not in that business. And the Expanded Dianetic Specialist and the pc someday will love you dearly for knowing your job and doing it right.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1976
——————–
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({});
——————–
“[The] press and the public are interested in murder, assault, destruction, violence, sex and dishonesty in that order. Investigations which can uncover these factors in the activities of individuals of a group attacking Scientology are valuable in the degree that they contain a number of these factors. The more factors a case contains the more important the case is. The idea is that the press feeds on these factors and we feed them someone else’s. It will be found that our own Scientology groups contain so few of these they have to be invented about us. We need never invent them in the attacking group. They will be found to be there.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 17, 1966
——————–
“The Flag Admin Org has a deficiency in LINE CONSCIOUSNESS. Because a line is invisible, one overlooks their presence. It’s public lines and routing lines are very poor. Lack of signs and advices and flash colors obscure lines. The staff member has to know where to route the particles and bodies and signs and flash marked paths and signs have to exist. An engineer flash marking pipes would understand this. I recommend the whole FAO get genned in by Dave Murphy on pipe flows as a starter. That makes the idea visible.” — The Commodore, February 17, 1971
——————–
“I am back home for a little while. The Covid was insignificant compared to the diagnosis of terminal mesothelioma. It almost certainly was caused by working with asbestos many years ago on the Apollo…It has saddened me too over the years to see long time Scientologists, LRH included, fall prey to ailments of the body. We quite simply do not have OTs at the level of disintegrating cancer. I shall however be looking at various approaches in the forthcoming months. I did get rather flattened recently with a pile of negative postulates that I have been peeling off.”
——————–
1996: The first Internet posting by Monica Pignotti was made to a.r.s this week. “For those of you who don’t know me I am a EX 6-year member of the CofS who wrote an account of my experience which was posted on ars My Nine Lives in Scientology. I was involved from 1970-76, which included time done on the Apollo, Clearwater, AOLA and the Salt Lake City mission. I’d love to hear from anyone who knew me back then and anyone else who would care to write. I’ve been out for nearly 20 years now — the anniversary date of my leaving and getting back my freedom was August 22nd, 1976. I’ve never for a moment regretted my decision to leave and I am a very happy SP, even though current members believe this is an oxymoron.”
——————–
“47x Shades of Cray: The Grant Cardone Story”
——————–
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 February 24.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud, awaiting sentencing.
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.
——————–
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] PODCAST: She spied on the FBI for Scientology and lived to tell about it
[TWO years ago] Danny Masterson retrial: No, the DA is not putting less focus on Scientology
[THREE years ago] Shekter: The proposition that threatened to upend my Scientology billion-year commitment
[FOUR years ago] The FBI wants a word with Leigh Dundas, Scientologist attorney and Capitol rioter
[FIVE years ago] DRONE FLYOVER: Another look at Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s final hiding place
[SIX years ago] Another Scientology monument to L. Ron Hubbard is going up in besieged Clearwater
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology set to turn Silicon Valley ‘Ideal!’ Here’s our first look from the grand opening
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology’s next move in forced-abortion lawsuit: Deposing defectors
[NINE years ago] When will academics acknowledge that the Scientology ‘apostate’ theory is finished?
[TEN years ago] On the eve of the big Tampa hearing, the Garcias fire back at Scientology’s ‘bench memo’
[ELEVEN years ago] NEW DATE: Celebration details of Los Angeles Scientology facilities leaked
[TWELVE years ago] Sunday Funnies: The Grant Cardone Is An Asshat Special Edition!
——————–
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 3,178 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,673 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,188 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,738 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,728 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,114 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,609 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,913 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,784 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,336 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,677 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,244 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,163 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,331 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,913 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,172 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,209 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,925 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,489 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,804 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,979 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,661 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,998 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,852 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,967 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,329 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,738 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,136 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,012 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,577 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,088 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,344 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,452 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on February 17, 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
The fresh smell of freedom: Trump taking trips on your dime
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});BREAKING: President Donald Trump asked the US Supreme Court to let him fire the head of an independent US agency that protects government whistleblowers, according to a person familiar with the filing.
via @GregStohr @ZoeTillman https://t.co/NyTUfDt80v— Jason Leopold (@JasonLeopold) February 16, 2025
DEVELOPING: The Trump Administration has started firing "several hundred" FAA probationary employees who maintain critical air traffic control infrastructure, according to their union.
The move comes not even three weeks since the deadly midair collision over Washington, D.C. pic.twitter.com/nAxBKHpifc
— Pete Muntean (@petemuntean) February 17, 2025
NEW: DOGE-affiliated employee has accessed IRS system with sensitive taxpayer information https://t.co/7rTyS8vgJJ
— Ben Goggin (@BenjaminGoggin) February 17, 2025
“Widespread fraud and abuse” but zero arrests of anyone for fraud or abuse. But it feels true and sounds sinister so we’re just gonna keep rolling with this line https://t.co/p1QBqeign6
— Adam Johnson (@adamjohnsonCHI) February 16, 2025
In outlining his plan to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, President Donald Trump said the U.S. ranks last among 40 developed countries on education despite spending the most per pupil. Neither of those claims is true. https://t.co/qqFIdve0Pd
— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) February 16, 2025
Conspiracy theorist Dom Lucre has claimed that he has been invited to the White House on February 20th for Black History Month, posting an apparent image of the invitation. https://t.co/Oi5z6WiLYZ pic.twitter.com/k0sp36e05t
— Alex Kaplan (@AlKapDC) February 16, 2025
Not surprisingly, the Trump and GOP budget has nothing about no tax on tips, nothing on no tax on overtime, and nothing on no tax on social security. It does have a $4.5 trillion tax cut for billionaires however.
— Ben Meiselas 🇺🇸🦅 (@meiselasb) February 15, 2025
Trump 2024: “No tax on tips”
Trump 2025: “Your tax funds trips” pic.twitter.com/r7LpetELuU
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) February 17, 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 February 17, 2025 at 08:00
February 16, 2025
Scientology hit with cookie-cutter lawsuit about sharing data with Facebook
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We understand why Scientology-watchers would be thrilled to see the church taken to court over anything at all. But we thought it was worth a closer look at this proposed class-action, since it seemed to come out of nowhere and says almost nothing about Scientology itself. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“What the Expanded Dianetics Specialist actually does is locate EXACTLY the actual evil intention for every Rockslam on the case and handle each one to total conclusion. When he is finished, if he has done his job well, the person’s behavior will be magically improved and as to his social presence, menace and conduct, well that will be toward survival. When you see an R/S, if you are not an Expanded Dianetic Specialist doing Expanded Dianetics at the correct point on the grade chart, you don’t say, ‘Hey, you’ve got an evil intention!’ and you don’t ask ‘Say, what’s that evil intention?’ or do corny things like that because you’ll get the pc self listing, you may get a wrong item, you won’t know what to do with it and you’re just likely to get the auditing room wrapped around your neck right there. No, you quietly note it, make sure it isn’t a mechanical fault, write it big on the worksheet, write down everything the pc is saying swiftly, note what question you were asking and let the pc talk and ack him and go on with what you are doing with the pc at the time. And after session you note it in the left-hand cover of the folder and send a report to Ethics.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1976
——————–
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({});
——————–
“Get a picture of a cat and say it belongs in 1810. A picture of a cow and say it belongs in 1830. Picture of a pig, say it belongs in the year 1. A picture of a woman, say it belongs in the second century BC. Continue with that exercise, any picture, any date. Any picture, any date. OK. Now let’s find some places you are not. All right.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 16, 1954
——————–
“AMONGST THE STARS: Bill Franks – Clear OT; Bill Franks – L10; Lucy Mielczarek – OT VII; Rob Sanderson – OT II, Anthony Azzarella – Grade V Power Plus Release; Richard Peterson – Grade V Power Release; Bill Franks – FEBC Internship; Elith Schaltz – FEBC; Mike Rubio – FEBC; Bill Tucker – Management Power Rundown; Bruce Stern – Org Officer/Prod Officer Mini Hat; Susan Prieur – 3rd Class Missionaire; Susan Rubio – 3rd Class Missionaire; Suzette Hubbard – Moped Operator.” — Love, George C & A, February 16, 1971
——————–
“I just wonder if anyone knows what to do after L. Ron Hubbard wrote, ‘let’s go for broke.’ Now I have no money and no job, so how can I get back to ‘abundance’ again?” B: “Just make up your mind, you got it all, and it comes back to you.”
——————–
2002: The Austin American-Statesman published a profile of L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology, written by the Director of Special Affairs of the Austin, Texas org. “In Scientology, we have no dogma about God. Nor do we ask you to take our teachings on faith. Instead, we start by showing you things about your spiritual nature, yourself, others and the world around you. From there you begin your road to truth and relationship with the Ultimate. In May 1950, Hubbard published his initial findings in ‘Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health.’ ‘Dianetics’ gave simple techniques that enabled one to address mentally caused ills, aberrations and suffering springing from past experiences. It was immensely popular, spawning a grassroots movement that by the end of 1950 included several hundred groups in the United States alone. Further exploration led Hubbard to discover the factors that keep a spiritual being trapped in the physical world, resulting in the loss of true identity. He developed techniques that opened the door to new levels of spiritual awareness. Hubbard named this ‘Scientology,’ describing it as ‘the route to total freedom and ability as a spiritual being.’ Scientology is concerned with bringing about a better civilization through rehabilitating individuals and providing them with tools to accomplish positive ends. How can I improve my relationships with others? How can I know what is ethical? How can I overcome the barriers that confront me in life? What can be done to bring out a more peaceful society? Scientology provides practical guidance on these matters. In Scientology, we have a motto: Whatever problems you face, something can be done about it.”
——————–
“It’s just like the mob, if you’re a money maker, you’re golden. You can molest the kids, murder your mistress etc but as long as you’re UPSTAT you’re a HERO. This statement by Hubbard is all the proof that the indies or anyone else should ever need to convince them that it was never about anything else except the money.”
——————–
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 February 24.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud, awaiting sentencing.
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.
——————–
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] Ribbon watch: Will Austin outsprint Paris for Scientology ‘Ideal’ glory?
[TWO years ago] TRANSCRIPT: Experienced OT auditor secretly taped dishing on the state of Scientology today
[THREE years ago] SCIENTOLOGY DENIED: Appeals court refuses to rehear arbitration ruling in Masterson case
[FOUR years ago] That Scientology spying operation on Anonymous? Yeah, we have video too
[FIVE years ago] Scientology and eyesight: The familiar totem of claiming clarity of vision to emulate Ron
[SIX years ago] In homophobic Scientology, you are required to write up your sins or else
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology scare tactics used against woman who reported its quack therapy for kids
[EIGHT years ago] Louis Theroux enjoys UK award for ‘My Scientology Movie’ ahead of US release
[NINE years ago] Science Fiction smackdown: L. Ron Hubbard, the pith helmet-wearing ‘pipsqueak Prometheus’
[TEN years ago] The paranoid, depressed L. Ron Hubbard: Jim Dincalci’s 1997 ‘Secret Lives’ TV interview
[ELEVEN years ago] Sunday Funnies: Scientology is having a grand re-opening at Big Blue this Saturday!
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Mythbusting with Jon Atack: And With Help From Harlan Ellison!
——————–
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 3,177 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,672 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,187 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,737 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,727 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,113 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,608 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,912 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,783 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,335 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,676 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,243 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,162 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,330 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,912 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,171 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,208 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,924 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,488 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,803 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,978 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,660 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,997 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,851 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,966 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,328 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,737 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,135 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,011 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,576 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,087 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,343 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,451 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on February 16, 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 asserts he’s beyond the law, and who’s to contradict him?
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});RIP Constitution. pic.twitter.com/yw0PxzVIc7
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) February 15, 2025
Some have claimed that there are limits to my actions. But it turns out my cause is so noble and my opponents are so reprobate that I am justified in everything.
It's evil to suggest that I'm constrained by morality, the law, society, tradition, mortal flesh, or God's mandates. https://t.co/VVLuhKcRKr
— Travis View (@travis_view) February 15, 2025
MAGA influencer Ashley St. Clair deleted this tweet about Kamala Harris after announcing she had a baby with Elon Musk pic.twitter.com/lwevp07XXd
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) February 15, 2025
This is a dude who can’t go 48 hours without talking about how Michelle Obama has a penis, but now they were talking about Elon having a kid with another woman suddenly he is all “None of my business. Why would I care?” pic.twitter.com/hlacYJmAEz
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) February 15, 2025
New from WaPo: Internal documents show how DOGE planned Trump’s DEI purge — and who gets fired next
Phase 1 = Shut down DEI across the gov’t
Phase 2 = Place workers on leave in non-DEI roles who DOGE determines are somehow tied to DEI [**This is where they are now**]
Phase 3 =… pic.twitter.com/OUF0StAdt7
— Heather Long (@byHeatherLong) February 15, 2025
Update: Posobiec did not join Hegseth's travel party in Europe.
He was invited, though.
Pentagon officials still have not responded to questions about their thought process. But two days later, they also have not issued any denials. https://t.co/MykkaCYb0f
— Dan Lamothe (@DanLamothe) February 15, 2025
Just a grey tick verified “government organization” Adolf Hitler account.
This site is an absolute shit show. @adolf_gov pic.twitter.com/lFjQc2AGf6
— Oliver Alexander (@OAlexanderDK) February 15, 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 February 16, 2025 at 08:00
February 15, 2025
Scientology insider at the center of White House Ukraine/Russia negotiation
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Yesterday, we told you about President Trump naming Scientology’s wealthiest donor to the board at the Kennedy Center. But there’s also a major Scientology figure involved in the Munich Russia/Ukraine talks. Yikes! ALSO: A new class-action against Scientology in California [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“One Rockslam doesn’t make a psychotic. Or a total menace to everyone. But it does mean there could be more and it might in rare cases mean you have, seeing enough of these R/Ses, a very dangerous person on your hands and in your vicinity. And that person must be handled by Expanded Dianetics. You won’t see a great many Rockslams in auditing people so you could be totally thrown off by surprise when you see one. And mess it all up because you are surprised. So know what it is and don’t get all quivery and make mistakes and blow your confront. Just carry on.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1976
——————–
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
——————–
“Greece, in its Golden Age, could be said to have been at Tone 4. Perhaps in the first days of this country, when we were searching out a wilderness and building the nation, we could be said to have been at Tone 4. A nation follows in its cycles the same tone scale as individuals. A person can be as high as Greece was, or in a state of apathy as were the American Indians when they were destroyed as a nation. You can tell just what the mental health of a nation is by observing its actions. A country like Russia that is always angry is at 1.5 or 2. It is either angry or in a state of war. If a human being were in this band he would be titled insane. A state in this band could not help being a police state. The United States for a while was rather bored but getting along. However, this last war reduced us to around 2.1, which is rather overtly hostile — ready to fight. We are drifting back down the tone scale. Between here and death is totalitarianism.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 15, 1951
——————–
“The actual value of a trained SO member is very high, yet is not being assigned a value. The wogworld tends to impress on people that the individual has no value. Welfare states deplore having people. Yet we run on and because of people. The value is actually too high to be calculated easily. Because value to self is all the wide world thinks of. Value to the group is discounted. Yet the whole value of a being is to his group and not to himself at all. The aberrated think of modern times says one has no real value to the group. Yet that is a being’s greatest value. We should work more on these lines in a practical sense.” — The Commodore, February 15, 1971
——————–
“Whenever Scientology doesn’t work it gets blamed on out-tech. Sometimes it might be the case, but Scientology itself is faulty. Hubbard never mentioned when things didn’t work from day one, for example in the Dianetics book he didn’t mention how some people can’t find engrams. They just can’t. He made out it was super easy to learn and works amazingly, but in the real world Dianetics didn’t pan out that way and Clear kinda doesn’t even exist.”
2001: The San Francisco Chronicle published an article on February 12th on Astra Woodcraft and her experiences in Scientology “Astra Woodcraft, apostate and defector, is the latest enemy of the Church of Scientology. Woodcraft, 22, never really joined this controversial psycho-spiritual movement, at least not as a free-thinking adult. Astra was born into it. Recruited at age 14 into the movement’s elite ‘Sea Organization,’ Woodcraft describes a brave new world of authoritarianism, greed and spiritual manipulation. Two generations of her family have been torn apart by Scientology. Holding her 2-year-old daughter, Kate, in her arms, Woodcraft vows that there will be no fourth generation in her clan. ‘I don’t want her to have any connection to Scientology,’ said Woodcraft. All cults have problems with apostates, insiders who leave the fold and denounce their former faith. But the Church of Scientology plays hardball with defectors, investigators and others seen as church enemies. ‘They are very hard on apostates,’ said Gordon Melton, director of the Institute for the Study of American Religion in Santa Barbara and the author of a recent scholarly study on the Church of Scientology. ‘Scientology is something people feel very, very strongly about,’ said Jeff Quiros, a church spokesman in San Francisco. ‘It’s not a go-to-church-on-Sunday kind of religion. It’s an intense religion. If people get in your way, they need to be dealt with one way or another.’ Two ways the church deals with critics are lawsuits, its own undercover investigations and public denunciations of those attacking the church. ‘Make it rough, rough on attackers all the way,’ Hubbard once advised his troops. ‘Start feeding lurid blood, sex crime, actual evidence on the attack to the press.’ Astra said her formal education stopped at age 9. Over the next few years, she was sent to a series of makeshift schools run by Scientologists. ‘There were no lessons, and hardly any books,’ she said. ‘Mostly, we just hung around.’ ‘We were only getting five or six hours a week,’ Astra said. When she was 14, young Woodcraft was recruited to follow her mother’s footsteps and join the Sea Organization. From age 14 to 19, she said, she was working from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., laboring for months without a day off, doing administrative work at the church world headquarter building in Hollywood. ‘Every week, you’re supposed to do more than the week before,’ she said. ‘You are in such a state of paranoia. All these kids are running around yelling at you. They’ll come up to you and yell, ‘What are you doing! Your statistics are down! What are your crimes?’ Astra Woodcraft says she was tricked into joining the Sea Org over lunch with Scientology recruiters at a Denny’s restaurant in Hollywood. She was offered a job at Bridge Publications, she said, which publishes books by L. Ron Hubbard. ‘In the regular Sea Org, they only pay you $45 a week, but Bridge is a for- profit company, so they have to pay minimum wage, about $300 a week,’ she said. ‘I thought it would be great. I was 14, and I’d be making $300 a week.’ Astra signed the standard billion-year contract promising loyalty to the Sea Org. ‘They say you join the Sea Org for a billion years, and every time you die you get a 21-year leave of absence between lifetimes,’ she said. ‘It’s ridiculous.’ Once she signed up, however, Astra was told she would be working, not at Bridge Publications, but for Scientology’s international justice chief for $45 a week as a secretary. At age 15, she married a 22-year-old Scientologist who also grew up in the movement. That same year, Woodcraft became an ‘ethics officer’ authorized to mete out punishment to anyone breaking Scientology rules. It’s not uncommon in the Sea Org to have young teenagers supervising and disciplining other members two or three times their age, she said. ‘It’s like in (George Orwell’s novel) ‘1984,’ when they have all the kids spying on their parents,’ she said. In July 1998, Woodcraft received a detailed bill from the Church of Scientology International office in Los Angeles demanding payment for all the ‘free’ training courses and auditing sessions she had received while in the Sea Org. The total amount was $89,526. Today, Astra lives in her father’s Van Nuys home with her 2-year-old daughter and 16-year-old sister, who left the church last year. Her mother and stepbrother remained in the Sea Org, along with her maternal grandmother. According to Astra and Lawrence Woodcraft, their family has spent at least $100,000 of inherited money on Scientology classes. Her mother, Leslie Woodcraft, declined to be interviewed. But in a written statement, she charged that Astra was ‘being conned by people from the Lisa McPherson Trust,’ an anti-Scientology group in Florida that is trying to ‘pry money out of Scientology.'”
——————–
“Jenna Elfman is jihadi-level crazy. She wouldn’t hesitate to go on a martyr mission if D.M. ordered her to.”
——————–
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 February 24.
— 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] Mark Bunker makes the case for why Clearwater needs him to keep fighting Scientology
[TWO years ago] So David Miscavige is now a defendant: But can the trafficking lawsuit avoid arbitration?
[THREE years ago] How Scientology kills without pulling a trigger: The story of a sister who was loved
[FOUR years ago] Scientology spying on Anonymous: Leaked from the files of a church private eye
[FIVE years ago] DRONE FLYOVER: First look at Scientology’s drug rehab at Larry Hagman’s estate
[SIX years ago] The Axioms of Dianetics: L. Ron Hubbard’s science-y foundation of Scientology ‘tech’
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology mag: Why aren’t you in Florida already dumping all that sweet cash?
[EIGHT years ago] Federal judge once again finds for Scientology’s nonexistent and Orwellian ‘arbitration’
[NINE years ago] Chuck Beatty is right: L. Ron Hubbard lofted culty cosmic ideas a decade before ‘Dianetics’
[TEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: New ‘Continental’ Narconons opening soon?
[ELEVEN years ago] Did John Travolta reveal too much about Scientology?
[TWELVE years ago] Blogging Dianetics, Part 7: The Hard Cell
——————–
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 3,176 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,671 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,186 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,736 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,726 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,112 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,607 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,911 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,782 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,334 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,675 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,242 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,161 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,329 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,911 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,170 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,207 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,923 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,487 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,802 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,977 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,659 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,996 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,850 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,965 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,327 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,736 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,134 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,010 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,575 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,086 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,342 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,450 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on February 15, 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 to Trump: ‘They’re trying to drive us apart, my lord’
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Trump cuts off reporter who asks if his tariffs policies will cause price to go up.
Trump, pointing to his signature: “Well, that’s a good one.”
Reporter: “Mr. President, you won the White House in part because of high inflation. If your tariffs make prices go up—”
Trump:… pic.twitter.com/tnjJa4VT1Q
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) February 14, 2025
Trump plans on ignoring any link between his policies and prices https://t.co/Ha3khMz3fZ
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) February 14, 2025
An Associated Press reporter and photographer were told they weren’t allowed on Air Force One due to the outlet’s continued use of “Gulf of Mexico.” pic.twitter.com/zD9EqmyztH
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) February 14, 2025
Trump officials fired nuclear staff not realizing they oversee the country’s weapons stockpile https://t.co/l306cdaRh6
— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) February 15, 2025
If Trump wasn’t elected, Rod Blagojevich wouldn’t have been pardoned and Eric Adams would be prosecuted. Thank you Mr. President for your merciful protection of our nation’s ludicrously corrupt Democrats.
— Travis View (@travis_view) February 15, 2025
They’re trying to drive us apart, my lord. https://t.co/wnXOtq78VV pic.twitter.com/kfBMwnTUET
— Gainfully Employed Robot (@Jube02) February 14, 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 February 15, 2025 at 08:00
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