Tony Ortega's Blog, page 60
January 21, 2025
IT’S SPRINGTIME FOR TWITTLER
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Elon Musk gave two Nazi salutes during his Trump inauguration speech.
Neo-Nazis across the globe are already celebrating
"WE ARE FUCKING BACK"https://t.co/xBJliUGHcm pic.twitter.com/TtizKHgEQl
— David Gilbert (@daithaigilbert) January 20, 2025
the great question of the 21st century: is it autism or hitler?
— John Ganz (@lionel_trolling) January 20, 2025
Tonight I ran into a self-described fascist source I've known since 2016. He was marveling at Elon Musk doing what he considered a "Roman salute." He said "that's bad optics, even for us."
— Elle Reeve (@elspethreeve) January 21, 2025
Great question from Tim Pool. pic.twitter.com/JxvNmjmSCi
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) January 21, 2025
This is exactly how it works. The MSM is too gutless to call Elon out for it while the Nazis celebrate their hero giving a Nazi salute. Win win for Elon. https://t.co/46Jogucwsq
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) January 21, 2025
QAnon is already baking Trump not putting his hand on the Bible while taking the oath. pic.twitter.com/mcjbRvOhO1
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) January 20, 2025
“Worry not about Biden’s pardon of Fauci. Putin will get him.” The alternate reality of QAnon makes Putin a hero and Ukraine the epicenter of the COVID pandemic. pic.twitter.com/pQX73QpHnW
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) January 20, 2025
According to the White House, President Trump has commuted the jail sentences of these 14 participants in the Capitol riots:
Stewart Rhodes (Oath Keepers)
Kelly Meggs (Oath Keepers)
Kenneth Harrelson (Oath Keepers)
Thomas Caldwell (Oath Keepers)
Jessica Watkins (Oath Keepers)… https://t.co/pYG9qJVOwS
— Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan86) January 21, 2025
The Jan. 6 rioter described by prosecutors as a "Nazi sympathizer" who once went to work with a "Hitler mustache" and compared Orthodox Jews to a "plague of locusts" has posted his invite to inaugural ceremonies. pic.twitter.com/KzyWz6pbUZ
— Tom Dreisbach (@TomDreisbach) January 20, 2025
NEW: The union representing hundreds of thousands of US government employees has sued the Trump administration challenging the lawfulness of Elon Musk's "DOGE," one of three such cases filed in DC fed court as Trump was sworn in. Details tk.
Complaint: https://t.co/S63I6p3BH7 pic.twitter.com/h6nAACOefL
— Zoe Tillman (@ZoeTillman) January 20, 2025
No, Trump didn’t make $50 billion from his memecoin
"Fully diluted valuation is an estimate so flawed that even publishing it should be considered journalistic malpractice."
Thank you @molly0xFFF for bringing some sense into the conversation.https://t.co/grvVd45jw4
— Jared Holt (@jaredlholt) January 20, 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 January 21, 2025 at 08:00
January 20, 2025
Scientology’s new ad push is really getting on people’s nerves
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Central to Scientology’s announced new media campaign are three TV ads that church leader David Miscavige revealed to the audience at the October IAS gala. But it’s a series of the campaign’s new billboards that have been getting noticed, and not in a good way. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“In Dianetics, the EP of a chain is erasure, accompanied by an F/N, cognition and good indicators. You wouldn’t necessarily expect rave indicators on a pc in the middle of an assist, under emotional or physical stress until the full assist was completed though. What you would expect is the chain blown with an F/N. Those two things themselves are good indicators. The cognition could simply be ‘the chain blew.’ In Scientology, End Phenomena vary with what you’re auditing. An ARC Broken pc on an L-1C will peel off charge and come uptone gradually as each reading line is handled. Sometimes it comes in a spectacular huge cog and VVGIs and dial F/N, but that’s usually after charge has been taken off on a gradient. What’s expected is an F/N as that charge being handled moves off.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1974
——————–
THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
——————–
THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
——————–
“Let’s go back to this problem and see if there isn’t a little bit more to be known then about an individual who will not exteriorize. We’ve got the DEI cycle — desire, enforce, inhibit. At first he desired to mobilize MEST, and then MEST began to enforce its mobilization upon him, and then he started to inhibit it. We will find this for instance between a man and a woman who are ill-matched sexually. We will find a woman who is tremendously demanding sexually, may at first attract some fellow who is fairly normal, and there will be a period there when he is perfectly willing to satisfy her. This passes rapidly into a period of where he begins to believe it is being enforced upon him, and this will pass rapidly into his refusal. And so you’ve got desire, enforce, inhibit. And he will not only inhibit his sexual outflow toward her, he will simply start inhibiting it toward all women. He does it by classes, non-specific. And so we find him then becoming sexually impotent in ratio to the amount of sexual performance which has been demanded of him. Rather sad thing, isn’t it?” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 20, 1954
——————–
“Div IV did not put any rat guards on our lines and now a rat has been seen aboard. What does it matter to make up super duper rat guards if you don’t use them!!” — Capt. Mary Sue Hubbard, January 20, 1970
——————–
“Finally I am here! It’s a great feeling, being verified and acknowledged as Clear. God knows how long and how many sleepless nights I’ve suffered from the uncertainty and invalidations of it. Words cannot describe the millions of things going through my mind right now. I’m just grateful that I’m where I am right now. The future is brighter than ever!”
——————–
1996: A new Dianetics infomercial contains an astounding scene with an alleged medical doctor, as this anonymously posted transcript describes. “Don Westrun (Athlete): I’d always had neck problems. And when I would turn my neck and rotate my neck I could … I could feel real stiffness, almost kind of a crunching sound, and … I’ve been told by doctors that it was from hockey, and.. and, you know, sport related injury, and … In that session I had a big win. And the first thing I noticed was my neck wasn’t stiff any longer. The pain was gone, it hasn’t come back. Dr. Janis Johnson (Medical Doctor): Well I’ve realized, from my, my twelve years … of medical practice, that if you don’t get to the source of the problem, all you do is cover up little symptoms on the surface. You don’t really get to the bottom of it – you don’t really solve it. Dianetics gets to the very bottom. The very underlying, source of the problem. Therefore that’s how it, it takes care of it! That’s, that’s why these problems don’t keep coming back. That’s why it handles it completely.”
——————–
“Clear Cognition: You mocked up your reactive mind. OT8 Cognition: You mocked up the Space Opera, your past lives and your BT infestation. The trigger for the OT8 cognition is the line ‘the Pilot says: I’m mocking this up.’ The desired End Phenomena is ‘Now that I know what I am not, I am ready to find out what I am’.”
——————–
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. Appeal brief due by December 23.
— ‘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, 2025.
— 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] Here’s Danny Masterson’s motion for bail while on appeal, in all its pricey detail
[TWO years ago] TODAY: Arguments on Scientology honcho David Miscavige being served in trafficking suit
[FOUR years ago] Danny Masterson arraigned on rape charges, enters a not guilty plea
[FIVE years ago] Scientology staffers react to Xenu, and hit up the ‘Reckless Ben’ team to work for eternity
[SIX years ago] Scientology uses celebrities and police as props — military veterans, it’s your turn!
[SEVEN years ago] Garcias decry Scientology kangaroo ‘arbitration’ and ask judge to reinstate fraud lawsuit
[EIGHT years ago] What Scientology can tell us about a 20th of January like no other
[NINE years ago] The Church of Scientology of Latter-Day Dolts: Video evidence of the fall
[TEN years ago] Scientology’s first ‘Clear’: L. Ron Hubbard intended to return as his daughter Diana’s son
[ELEVEN years ago] Tales from Scientology’s Hollywood Celebrity Centre: A new film, and a new death
[TWELVE years ago] Sunday Funnies: Scientology Says It Bought a SUPER BOWL Ad!
——————–
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 3,150 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,645 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,160 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,710 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,700 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,086 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,581 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,885 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,756 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,308 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,649 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,216 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,135 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,303 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,885 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,145 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,181 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,897 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,461 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,776 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,951 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,633 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,970 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,824 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,939 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,301 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,710 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,108 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,984 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,549 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,060 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,316 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,424 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on January 20, 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’s second inauguration arrives: The grift that keeps on giving
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});If Biden said anything like this QAnon would be never stop playing the clip and screaming about election fraud. https://t.co/zjVqh8DdKy
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) January 19, 2025
.@realDonaldTrump dances to "YMCA" with members of the Village People during a Inauguration rally at the Capital One Arena in Washington. pic.twitter.com/573RP8xcoZ
— Doug Mills (@dougmillsnyt) January 19, 2025
DOGE already downsizing governmenthttps://t.co/PuRYSnOLSc
— Andy Kaczynski (@KFILE) January 19, 2025
News: Trump and his team have drafted a slate of pardons for people convicted for their role on Jan 6 to be issued on day one, shortly after Trump is sworn into the White House, two sources familiar with the plans told @CNN
— Alayna Treene (@alaynatreene) January 19, 2025
In 2020, Trump ran Facebook ads calling for a TikTok ban
pic.twitter.com/7PKVk3ivx0
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) January 19, 2025
We are witnessing the beginning stages of the “rug pull presidency.”
Trump, his family, and his cronies are already profiting off the office to the tune of billions of dollars.
Your life will not get better. Not one bit.
In the end, it will the American people left holding… https://t.co/i98ZjM58nV
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) January 19, 2025
This shake down of TikTok is Trump’s long con.
Trump started the TikTok ban, but has now flipped-flopped to play the hero while looking to enrich new owners (his donors).
There is nothing in this post about protecting American’s data, Trump’s original justification for the ban. pic.twitter.com/ATPdCxyRSn
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) January 19, 2025
Like it or not, Biden signed a bill demanding a 100% divesture of TikTok by Chinese company ByteDance over privacy concerns.
Trump has already caved, recommending a 50% “joint venture” without any announced data protections for Americans.
How very “America First” of him.
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) January 19, 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 January 20, 2025 at 08:00
January 19, 2025
Becky Bigelow, 1962-2025, escaped from Scientology with Ron Miscavige
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Scientology’s smears of Ron Miscavige and Becky Bigelow remain online, more than 12 years after they escaped Int Base and embarrassed Ron’s son, David Miscavige. We’re glad we got to know Becky as much as we did, and wish she could have enjoyed her freedom for a little longer. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“Different types of auditing call for different handlings of End Phenomena. End Phenomena will also vary depending on what you’re running. The definition of END PHENOMENA is ‘those indicators in the pc and meter which show that a chain or process is ended.’ Misapplication of this definition can result in underrun and overrun processes or actions and the pc snarled up with BPC. In Power Processing the auditor waits for a specific EP and does not indicate an F/N until he has gotten the specific EP for the process. To miss on this in Power is disastrous, thus Power auditors are drilled and drilled on the handling of Power EPs.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1974
——————–
THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
——————–
THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
——————–
“You find many a girl — various stresses in the war you notice this: Some girl who was very much in love with some young man, and he got knocked off, something like that, and right away she becomes a lawyer — begins to talk in a rather husky voice. If you watch her a while longer, the next thing you know, she’s liable to start smoking cigars. You know? And in order to exteriorize her, you’d have to exteriorize her out of the body of a young man before you could exteriorize her out of the body she’s in. Now she doesn’t want to be in the body she’s in, so she’s not really in the body she’s in, and you just don’t have a dog’s chance of exteriorizing her out of that body. You say, ‘Be three feet back of your head.’ She’s not in it. So the whole command misses. You see that?” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 19, 1956
——————–
“1969 was the year of Out-Ethics. In 1970 I trust all SO members will wear their ethics hats. Every SO member has one. Every time we ease up or drop Ethics we get horrible problems and stats. It can be plotted on the Int GI. Fact is Ethics is madly out on the planet. Definition of some Earth wog leaders — somebody who is trying to get even with everybody else. Definition of psychiatry: the government’s method of getting even with the insane.” — The Commodore, January 19, 1970
——————–
“When you interweave your spiritual essence with too many other thetans, you are establishing too many anchor points on that Dynamic. When one does this, it makes it more difficult to once again find and re-unite with one’s true ‘soul-mate’ lifetime after lifetime. If ‘soul-mates’ mutually refrain from promiscuity prior to re-uniting, they find each other again and again, lifetime to lifetime. The indicator is this, trust your own knowingness as to whether you have a long term relationship with the person or not – and if not, do not get involved with them, especially sexually.”
——————–
2002: Celebrity Magazine reported that Kirstie Alley has opened two new reading centers in California, and that a benefit event was held in Los Angeles to raise money for Scientology volunteer ministers. “The grand opening of the first new Lillie’s was at the Mission of Beverly Hills. Present were Jennifer Aspen and Lynsey Bartilson as well as hundred of attendees ranging from Scientologists to local community leaders and non-Scientology celebrities. The second Lillie’s was opened at the Mission of Riverpark, in Sacramento, California, the very next day. Among those attending were Jenna Elfman and Kate Ceberano. Lillie’s Learning Place provides tutoring for anyone who wishes to improve their ability to study, by utilizing L. Ron Hubbard’s Study Tech. Also taught is a phonics-based reading program for anyone wanting to improve their ability to read, as well as a thorough, easy-to-learn course on grammar. Kirstie’s plans now include opening up four more Lillie’s in the months to come. Crowds attended the ‘LA Love NY’ benefit held at the Garden Pavilion. Celebrity guests included Marisol Nichols, Lynsey Bartilson, Michelle Stafford, Gina St. John, Catherine Bell, Jack Armstrong, concert pianist Mario Feninger, singer Shannon Start Roberts, singer Kelly Meyersfield, singer/songwriter Erik Meyersfield, singer/songwriter David Pomeranz and STOMP! dancer Chad Kukahiko. The show was a variety of musical performances, true dramatic stories from New York read by actors, wins from our Volunteer Ministers, and quotes by L. Ron Hubbard. Proceeds from the event went to benefit the efforts of the Volunteer Ministers in New York.”
——————–
“OT 7 is just sitting in a room talking to yourself and seeing if the needle reacts. You’d think after a couple of years of doing that they would just say ‘fuck it!’ and tell the case supervisor ‘The belfry is bat-free’.”
——————–
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. Appeal brief due by December 23.
— ‘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, 2025.
— 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] We’re back in court today as Leah Remini’s lawsuit faces early hurdles
[TWO years ago] Tonight: Our conversation with Mike Rinder on ‘A Billion Years’ for Mark Twain House
[THREE years ago] Journalist John Connolly dies at 78, was outed in 2011 as Scientology spy by Mike Rinder
[FOUR years ago] Danny Masterson accusers want emergency halt on ‘religious arbitration’ to protect rape case
[FIVE years ago] Georgia puts legislator who promotes Scientology anti-psych efforts on mental health panel
[SIX years ago] New Sea Org escapee says that Scientology still forcing abortions, decade after practice exposed
[SEVEN years ago] More Scientology news is here: You won’t believe how fast this planet is being cleared!
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology in hot water again for cutting down trees without permission
[NINE years ago] When the feds tracked down L. Ron Hubbard’s boast about getting rich by creating a religion
[TEN years ago] Earache my eye: A Scientology official’s excuses why he can’t fly for deposition in fraud suit
[ELEVEN years ago] Sunday Funnies: For the second year in a row, Scientology will have an ad in the Super Bowl
[TWELVE years ago] We Told You Jamie DeWolf Would Blow Up!
——————–
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 3,149 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,644 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,159 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,709 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,699 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,085 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,580 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,884 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,755 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,307 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,648 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,215 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,134 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,302 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,884 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,144 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,180 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,896 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,460 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,775 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,950 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,632 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,969 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,823 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,938 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,300 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,709 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,107 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,983 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,548 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,059 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,315 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,423 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on January 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
TikTok goes down in US, setting up savior role for Trump tomorrow
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Hearing it's likely Trump will issue an executive order to stall TikTok ban on Monday, first day of his presidency. The Biden administration could not have written him a better savior role if they'd tried https://t.co/0eJfJKDjSq
— Drew Harwell (@drewharwell) January 18, 2025
lmao TikTok has literally built sucking up to Trump into the app
i think they just pulled ahead in the “tech leaders prostrate themselves in front of the new administration” race pic.twitter.com/ujnhDwFvTG
— rat king 🐀 (@MikeIsaac) January 19, 2025
Is this because Trump plans on pardoning January 6 rioters who beat police officers?
Or is it because Trump stiffs cities for his rallies, refusing to reimburse them for law enforcement, etc.?
Or maybe they just don’t want to help a convicted felon. pic.twitter.com/G4fCvNAcye
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) January 18, 2025
Snoop Dogg was performing at the Inaugural Crypto Ball pic.twitter.com/GtYUenirNg
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) January 18, 2025
Roseanne Barr drops her new rap video.
Try not to die after watching it. pic.twitter.com/lC5TPoEKjA
— Joe G (@EastEndJoe) January 19, 2025
Jesus. FTC finds companies are exploiting your data – browsing history, location, buying patterns, even “mouse movements on a webpage” – to gouge you with higher prices shown specifically to you. Just shocking. https://t.co/5E2vZCV9Ve
— Max Fisher (@Max_Fisher) January 18, 2025
For all his "I don't really follow this QAnon stuff" Jacob loves jumping in on QAnon's new obsessions. This was a "decode" of the song that played at the end of the RNC and is supposed to signal the mass arrests of Trump's enemies. pic.twitter.com/IEsIZuSjd5
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) January 19, 2025
Vance has been certified by Congress as the Vice President Elect but Julie Donuts thinks JFK Jr. is going to cash in the MITB Briefcase at the inauguration and become Veep. pic.twitter.com/EZQaSRUUzG
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) January 18, 2025
Trump is setting up a scam that would make the Hawk Tuah Girl’s rug pull look tame by comparison and the media is celebrating him doing it. pic.twitter.com/1HyszgGkIi
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) January 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 January 19, 2025 at 08:00
January 18, 2025
Anonymous fought ‘disconnection’ — but Scientology never stops destroying families
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: On Tuesday, the 17th anniversary of Anonymous declaring war on the Church of Scientology will arrive, and we wanted to mark the occasion with a story that recently came up thanks to Alex Barnes-Ross, and with help from Pete Griffiths and Wise Beard Man himself, Mark Bunker. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“When auditing a flying pc or a Clear or OT the auditor who sets the Sensitivity too high gets weird impressions of the case. ‘Latent reads’ on such a case are common. They aren’t latent at all. What happens is that the F/N is more than a dial wide at high Sensitivity and a started F/N looks like a read as its sweep is stopped by the pin on the right of the dial. In this way uncharged items are taken up, the case is slowed, overrun and general upsets requiring repairs occur.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1974
——————–
Jon Atack on Scientology
——————–
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?
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});[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
——————–
“The technology we have, without any thought at all we can make the sane saner and the insane sane, and the breakthrough which exists here technically is so strong that it actually cuts though the normal protective mechanisms of the mind, wham, wham. And that the use of this material by any but a well organized, well disciplined group would be very fatal, quite lethal. And therefore we’re in the peculiar position now of not being able to export all the technology we have, because the areas into which we would export it, and the orgs into which we export it are insufficiently organized to be able to handle and control it.” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 18, 1971
——————–
“‘CHILDREN’: By FO No. 301 a Condition of non-existence is assigned to any member of the ships company that obstructs a child from doing his or her work, deprives the child of his possessions or his job. This applies to all cadets and Middies as well.” — The Commodore, January 18, 1971
“The ‘heaviness’ of the world’s problems and issues is held simply by the intentions of a few beings with which others are in agreement through ignorance and apathy driven by past experiences and little education in the realities of life. So how can we change this? Reality is agreement. The more agreement there is the more real something becomes. The MEST universe, for example, has more agreement than you can throw a stick at and it is certainly persisting and is more real to most people than their own beingness. The current agreement for the future for this planet is not of the best. It currently lies in irresponsibility and not-is-ness. The reality of an individual’s beingness is being buried in the enforced reality of MEST.”
——————–
2001: The Marin Independent Journal reported on January 18th that a California court has found Gerry Armstrong in contempt for speaking out against Scientology. “Marin Superior Court Judge Vernon Smith ruled that Armstrong, a former Scientology archivist, violated an earlier settlement agreement that he stop criticizing the church and discussing the experiences he had within the organization. Smith also issued an arrest warrant for Armstrong, who did not attend yesterday’s court hearing. Reached at his home in British Columbia, Armstrong said he intentionally stayed away from court for fear he would be thrown in jail. Armstrong said he also has no intention of curbing his criticism, which most often takes the form of writings he posts in Internet discussion groups. ‘This is about freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, the whole gamut. I will fight this to the ends of the Earth.’ In making their case for a contempt order against Armstrong, attorneys for the church submitted a sheaf of messages Armstrong had posted on the Internet between March 1998 and last July. Quiros, the Scientology spokesman, said ‘We’ll probably never see a dime from Mr. Armstrong,’ he said. ‘And I doubt he’ll do any jail time because he will probably never come back to California.'” Gerry Armstrong posted his comment on the ruling to a.r.s. “They are still faced with the same problem they had, only it’s bigger. This little big win may have cost them a million. And nothing happened. Their need to lie only serves to convince me that I am without the slightest doubt correct in my studied assessment and judgment that Scientology’s ‘contract’ is legally unenforceable, that Judge Thomas’s injunction is unlawful, that $cientology has unclean hands throughout this litigation, and that $cientology and their lawyers know these facts to be true. For my first contempt, which was for sending Judge Whyte my declaration about being threatened by attorney Andy Wilson after I was served by Grady Ward in $cientology v. Ward, Judge Thomas sentenced me to 2 days in jail and fined me $2,000. For my next 13 contempts, which were mainly talking about my religious experiences to people in Germany, Judge Thomas sentenced me to 26 days in jail and fined me $2,600, or $200 each. In this latest effort by $cientology, having me charged with 133 contempts, Judge Smith has not sentenced me to any jail time nor fined me. The clear message to me is that by continuing to communicate more and more about my religious experiences and religious beliefs, and committing more and more violations of the unlawful Thomas injunction, I have brought the price of contempt down to zero. And continuing the trend, $cientology will now be paying me to speak and write. I’m inspired.”
——————–
“I’ve already exteriorized three times today…without coffee!”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});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. Appeal brief due by December 23.
— ‘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, 2025.
— 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] VIDEO: Apostate Alex’s MP calls for government investigation of Scientology!
[TWO years ago] ‘WHOA’: Scientology selling ‘Total Immortality’ in slick new video!
[THREE years ago] Leah Remini interviews one of the original online troublemakers: Andreas Heldal-Lund
[FOUR years ago] Scientology nostalgia: Never-before-seen photos from a 2001 celebrity wankfest
[FIVE years ago] Narconon whistleblower Lucas Catton puts out a new memoir about his Scientology nightmare
[SIX years ago] Filmmakers tell us why they decided to help Scientology with its new TV network
[SEVEN years ago] A new chapter for one of the best Scientology books of all time? Yes, and we have it!
[EIGHT years ago] Leah Remini has changed Scientology forever — which episode was your favorite?
[NINE years ago] Stalked in New Orleans cemetery: Scientology’s secretive defectors getting more open
[TEN years ago] VIDEO LEAK: See former Scientology official Marty Rathbun interrogated under oath
[ELEVEN years ago] Jon Atack on Scientology’s fundamental feature: the thousand-yard stare
[TWELVE years ago] Blogging Dianetics, Part 3: The Meaning of Life!
——————–
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 3,148 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,643 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,158 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,708 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,698 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,084 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,579 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,883 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,754 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,306 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,647 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,214 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,133 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,301 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,883 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,143 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,179 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,895 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,459 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,774 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,949 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,631 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,968 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,822 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,937 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,299 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,708 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,106 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,982 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,547 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,058 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,314 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,422 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on January 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
Trump messed with Jimmy’s flag and now he has to hold his inauguration inside
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});https://t.co/uBGk41I2aB pic.twitter.com/JEOFHJtdAi
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) January 17, 2025
Trump’s inauguration stage is being built inside the Capitol Rotunda. pic.twitter.com/DX2UWcfDmJ
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) January 18, 2025
This bust of MLK is in the Capitol Rotunda where Trump will be inaugurated on MLK Day.
Trump, in order to get elected, has aligned himself with people like Charlie Kirk who has attacked MLK repeatedly, calling him, “a bad guy.” pic.twitter.com/XLToTC5cS2
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) January 18, 2025
A statue of Union General Ulysses S. Grant and Abraham Lincoln will be right behind Trump at the inauguration, reminding us that Trump is an insurrectionist who attempted to overturn the 2020 election. pic.twitter.com/IabvobhXxn
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) January 18, 2025
The Deep State is totally defeated and Trump ran Biden's Presidency and the QDrops prove everything went As Prophecy Foretold and also Trump had to move his inauguration indoors because the totally defeated Deep State might have done something evil if he hadn't. Trust The Plan. pic.twitter.com/3p5neu2fUk
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) January 18, 2025
Can you blame them? pic.twitter.com/zW8KfWsspn
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) January 18, 2025
Instead of lowering prices or ending war in Ukraine, Trump is selling “meme coins” right before the inauguration. He doesn’t give a crap about our country. The world is laughing at us. pic.twitter.com/gm44mb8FVx
— Ben Meiselas 🇺🇸🦅 (@meiselasb) January 18, 2025
Steak ‘n Shake is switching from cooking with vegetable oil over to beef tallow, a method of cooking advocated by RFK Jr.
The fast food chain is owned by a Trump donor. pic.twitter.com/HEBbVKVP8K
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) January 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 January 18, 2025 at 08:00
January 17, 2025
Have you got what it takes to afford the Scientology good life?
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We can’t get enough of the wonderful things readers send in which help us keep an eye on what the Church of Scientology is up to this very minute. Recent items include news of big donations, and claims that church founder L. Ron Hubbard was a civil rights icon! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“Sometimes the C/S runs into the case whose attention is solidly fixed on something. When attention is fixed we have an unawareness of other things than the object of fixation and a lessening of Self-Determinism to a point of Other Determinism. Example: The pc is always bringing up cars. He has trouble with cars, has ARC Breaks about cars, W/Hs about cars, commits overts on cars. It worries him all the time, is a constant problem. The fixated attention case appears not to as-is and is usually stuck on the track in the ‘quiet’ portion of an incident. Ahead of it and behind it is extreme randomity. This is not easily confronted so is not-ised. The solution is to get the pc to exercise his attention putting it here and there.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1974
——————–
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({});
——————–
“This is what? [Audience: 17th.] The what? [17th.] Of what month? [January.] 17th of January. What year? [AD 12.] AD 12. And where are we? [Saint Hill.] Huh? [Saint Hill.] Yeah, I know, but what planet? [Earth.] Earth. OK. Thank you very much. All right. Thank you very much for orienting me. I’ve been flying about here and haven’t had much time to look up.” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 17, 1962
——————–
“The ship is doing much better and starting to pull up its socks. Therefore the general condition is raised to EMERGENCY…When the ship was injured against the dock it is interesting that the 1st Mate had been goofed up in Qual previously. These names are then associated with the decline of the ship condition by being in charge of the areas: DIANE McDONALD, OTTO ROOS, PHIL QUIRINO, NATE JESSUP, BILL HOWEY, through to greater or lesser degree neglect of duty…When we didn’t push the real targets, the ship wound up on my plate and the crew got caught in the resulting storm. Certain VITAL actions had to be COMPLETED before we could operate or sail. Lots of small actions were done but the big ones got no heavy push and so left us actually inoperational. We are now doing much better and the new mate line up is functioning very well especially with 2nd Deputy Captain Eltringham on the job!” — The Commodore (1969)
——————–
“Anyone who knows me knows I’m a rebel; no one tells me what to do. Not even L Ron Hubbard. But I’m smart enough to know who winners are and who losers are. I know that I applied LRH Management tech inside Scientology Organizations and then outside Scientology Orgs and it always worked better than anything else I read or tried. Why re-invent the wheel? The wheel is already there and abundantly available. So when I find someone telling me to ‘look elsewhere’ or ‘try other things,’ I know this person is a loser because this person never applied the tech like we did to boom Scientology, like we did. Yes, in the wrong hands, Scientology Management and the Sea Org can become suppressive/oppressive groups in themselves. But like anything that is run by suppressives it itself becomes suppressive. Just like in the hands of psychotics, assault weapons can kill a lot of people, but in the hands of sane people, they do not kill. We can boom Scientology again. It is very easy and I am willing to help anyone who wants to see Scientology grow.”
——————–
2000: From letters to the editor of the St. Petersburg Times: “I am a board member for the Lisa McPherson Trust and I take issue with the statements given by the cult of Scientology’s spokesman, Marty Rathbun. First, I am not an outsider, as Mr. Rathbun claims. I own a residence in Tampa and only moved here after the company I work for moved from downtown Clearwater because of the dark and threatening nature of the cult and its not-so-well-hidden agenda. The cult of Scientology has managed to insidiously insert itself into the very threads that control the business community of downtown Clearwater. When asked by the Lisa McPherson Trust to assist in finding office space downtown, I ended up going to every high-rise office building in downtown with vacant office space. In each case, we were turned down. When asked, some of the property managers were honest enough to say that they’d been contacted by the cult. We knew this to be true because we were followed by private investigators the entire time we were visiting these buildings. So when Mr. Rathbun says the reason we’re here ‘is to harass people,’ all I can say is that they accuse others of what they are guilty of. The Trust will produce the truth about Scientology and its management, the lies they tell their members and why they are trying to stop the trust. — Patricia Greenway, Tampa”
——————–
“From what I’ve seen and read, status is very competitive and important in public Scientology. Except, instead of cars and homes and jewelry it’s Monty Python Roman titles, bowling trophies and dime store certificates.”
——————–
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. Appeal brief due by December 23.
— ‘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, 2025.
— 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] Scientology’s legacy: A look back from a remarkable new perspective
[TWO years ago] Shelly Miscavige and her beagles: A Group Therapy podcast extra
[THREE years ago] You recruited people to Scientology: After you’re out, how do you deal with the regret?
[FOUR years ago] Portlanders, did you receive Scientology’s love letter?
[FIVE years ago] VALERIE HANEY’S OPPOSITION TO ARBITRATION: A strong no to Scientology’s legal gambit
[SIX years ago] Danny Masterson’s attorneys pounce on A&E’s plans for resurrecting an ‘Aftermath’ episode
[SEVEN years ago] The new Freedom magazine is here, and Scientology has never looked better!
[EIGHT years ago] Behold, it’s Scientology Jesus as you’ve never seen him before!
[NINE years ago] How Scientology hooks public officials on its addictive anti-drug front
[TEN years ago] L. Ron Hubbard fisticuffs! Scientology secrets unearthed in a new government disclosure
[ELEVEN years ago] ‘The Factors’: Another video the Church of Scientology would rather you not watch
[TWELVE years ago] Lawrence Wright’s Going Clear: We Don’t Think Scientology Is Going to Like This Book Much
——————–
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 3,147 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,642 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,157 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,707 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,697 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,083 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,578 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,882 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,753 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,305 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,646 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,213 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,132 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,300 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,882 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,142 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,178 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,894 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,458 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,773 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,948 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,630 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,967 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,821 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,936 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,298 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,707 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,105 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,981 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,546 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,057 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,313 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,421 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on January 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
Q patriots preparing to ‘shift gears’ on Monday as the storm finally arrives
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Trump reposted an ominous warning from Catturd: “5 days until FAFO” pic.twitter.com/iwqtlGcqbm
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) January 17, 2025
Greenland’s Prime Minister tells Fox:
We don't want to be Americans. We don't want to be a part of U.S. But we want a strong cooperation together with U.S. pic.twitter.com/VpdCQGOwub
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 16, 2025
Travis Keith Garland was, by the way, wearing an Alex Jones t-shirt. https://t.co/mwRDUCO16V pic.twitter.com/IDhSG4mxJq
— Phil Williams (@PhilNvestigates) January 17, 2025
Notice how vague Jacob keeps everything. How after Trump saves the world he'll have the political capital needed to "Enact justice" and make "sweeping changes". That's code for "Kill all his enemies" and "Become a dictator". pic.twitter.com/FHvGWiIE6q
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) January 16, 2025
Everything Zuckerberg is doing must be seen in context of TikTok ban, the greatest gift govt could give Meta. I went through years of his testimony about China; he has been planting seeds for this for years, now desperately needs Trump to side with him: https://t.co/lkJFc7aQcy
— Jason Koebler (@jason_koebler) January 16, 2025
BREAKING: Joe Biden won't enforce the TikTok ban before leaving office, an official says, as Donald Trump pledges to save the app that the U.S. has called a threat. https://t.co/lYjSF0H0Gb
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 17, 2025
EXCLUSIVE | The Daily Beast has obtained an explosive tape of the man Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence called her spiritual guide.https://t.co/7YDPXj6I2y
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) January 16, 2025
ICYMI, I wrote about the rumor mill that's emerged from the LA fires, and why rumors serve a different purpose than conspiracy theories.https://t.co/7VceR6ZfNX
— Mike Rothschild (@rothschildmd on blu sky) (@rothschildmd) January 16, 2025
"Pam are you familiar with QAnon? They believe a cabal of satanic cannibalistic child molesters are embedded within our government." This was a question asked at the Pam Bondi hearing and is exactly the wrong way to frame QAnon. This is doing QAnon's PR work for them. 🧵
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) January 16, 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 January 17, 2025 at 08:00
January 16, 2025
Neil Gaiman’s Scientology upbringing, and how he mined it for content
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: With the disturbing allegations against Neil Gaiman blowing up after a New York mag story this week, we noticed people are interested in our previous reporting about Neil and his Scientology upbringing. We decided to bring together that information and to add some updates. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“C/S ACTION — CLEARED CANNIBAL STEP. The C/S’s action is a direct comm line to the person by notes. The person is provided with paper and pen to reply. The C/S must determine the person’s responsibility level. Example: ‘Dear Joe. What can you guarantee me if you are let out of isolation?’ If the person’s reply shows continued irresponsibility toward other dynamics or fixation on one dynamic to the exclusion of others damaged the C/S must inform the person of his continued isolation and why. Example: ‘Dear Joe. I’m sorry but no go on coming out of isolation yet. Your actions threatened the survival of hundreds of people indirectly and 6 families directly by burning down their houses. You are unaware of the effects this could have had and still only concerned about your own welfare. You must hate the human race quite a bit.'” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1974
——————–
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
——————–
“Take any given action. Let’s take kissing a girl, just take that as an action. I don’t know whether you’re familiar with this action or not, but — kissing a girl. All right. Now, let’s take a look at the various societies and their various regards of it. And you find out it’d be very interesting. The Marriage Counselors Society of Los Angeles. Of course, this is a very laudable action and therefore you are a very evil man if you don’t kiss a girl. If you’re not the type of man who kisses girls, then you’re an evil man. That’s according to the mores of the marriage counselors. Because of course the more girls that get kissed, the more business they have. Elementary. Elementary. All right. Now, let’s take the Sex Is Evil Society of New York City. The Sex Is Evil Society. All right. Every time you kiss a girl, you see, you are evil. So you’re an evil man because you kiss a girl. Now, you go down to Hollywood, for instance, and kiss a girl, they think you’re crazy. I didn’t mean it as a crack, and so forth. I didn’t mean it as a crack, a derogatory. In the first place, it couldn’t be derogatory because you can always explain cracks about Hollywood on the same basis, ‘It isn’t critical — it isn’t a critical thought because it’s true!’ You hear that?” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 16, 1962
——————–
“The factor of income-outgo is that one must have more income than outgo for an org to live at all. This is the primary thing that EOs and staffs overlook. It is the only thing really that can wipe out an org. ASHO in November ran at less income than outgo (loss of $3,000) which is why there is an effort to combine ASHO and AOLA. In management this factor — the income-outgo ratio — is just something that can’t be ignored as it can destroy an org and is, by experience, the only thing which can. It is also the hardest thing to get across to ECs. One has to increase income to exceed outgo and also decrease outgo so it is less than income — both actions are usually necessary. I doubt there is a more important management datum than this. Or one which is more consistently ignored in orgs.” — The Commodore, January 16, 1970
——————–
“‘KUCDEIOF: know, unknow, curious, desire, enforce, inhibit, none of it, false.’ KUCDEIOF may be and is currently being applied in reverse to install false and substituted stable data and a false and substituted operating basis. The 1st step is to persuade the person by foul means or fair to unknow what they actually know to be true, for example to persuade the person to suspend disbelief, a standard pyramid sales technique. Then it’s generate curiosity and desire followed swiftly by enforce and inhibit. Then the lollipop is taken away at absence of and none of it is applied to ensure a total rejection of the original truth. Finally the false and substituted stable datum and operating basis is installed. At this point whatever it is that the person originally knew to be true and was persuaded to unknow is considered false. In actuality an inversion, reversal, denial and substitution of truth is what takes place. And how on earth do we end up in such a mess in the first place? By unknowing what we actually know to be true.”
1999: Scientology opponent and lawyer Graham Berry announced that his partnership has dissolved because of pressure from Scientology. “Today, with 5 scieno lawyers against me, the judge not only gave me an opportunity to respond in an orderly manner to the barrage of
‘overwhelming’ discovery that caused the partnership dissolution but commented that although the law may have required him to keep them in, that it made more sense to let them out. In the same spirit it gave me the time to meet the mountain of scientology discovery demands. Next week scientology takes days 7-12 of my deposition. After the Reveillere (OSA) v Pattinson document inspection tomorrow it is then on to deal with Moxon’s opposition to Michael Pattinson’s motion for leave to file a third amended complaint in Pattinson v. CSI. In those papers Moxon denies that clearing the planet means scientology technology ruling the world!” Graham also reported increased investigations from Scientology PI Eugene Ingram. “Right now the scientology litigation blitzkrieg is all over me and harassing witnesses with PI’s. Ingram even called the DA’s office which then called me. ‘Some PI by the name of Gene Ingram is trying to obtain information on you but he is not going to get it unless we speak with you first. I also expect to be taking the depositions of Miscavige, Moxon, Rinder and Ingram within the next 8 weeks in two different cases, in the Berry cases and in Pattinson.”
——————–
“Steve Allen and Johnny Carson hated Scientology.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. Appeal brief due by December 23.
— ‘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, 2025.
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] We’re in LA for the hearing in Leah Remini’s lawsuit against Scientology
[TWO years ago] Grant Cardone at Flag: Again, Scientology turns to its professional ham hock to fill seats
[THREE years ago] When Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard decided to get tough with squirrels
[FOUR years ago] More proof that governments are aware of how Scientology abuses its own members
[FIVE years ago] Lawsuit filed in death of man shot by police at Scientology’s Inglewood ‘Ideal Org’
[SIX years ago] Another elderly victim gets soaked by Scientology, is talking to law enforcement
[SEVEN years ago] Leah Remini and Mike Rinder cite Scientology interrogations as they support Paul Haggis
[EIGHT years ago] What Scientology is telling its members: Things have never been better!
[NINE years ago] Atack: What I meant when I said Scientologists suffer from arrogance when they leave
[ELEVEN years ago] High crimes and misdemeanors: Jefferson Hawkins on Scientology’s bizarre criminal code
[TWELVE years ago] TONIGHT: Nancy Many’s Story of Scientology Spying and Interrogation on ID at 10 PM
——————–
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 3,146 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,641 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,156 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,706 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,696 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,082 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,577 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,881 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,752 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,304 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,645 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,212 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,131 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,299 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,881 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,141 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,177 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,893 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,457 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,772 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,947 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,629 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,966 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,820 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,935 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,297 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,706 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,104 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,980 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,545 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,056 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,312 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,420 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on January 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
Tony Ortega's Blog
- Tony Ortega's profile
- 19 followers
