TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: After announcing he would be the new chairman of the Kennedy Center, President Donald Trump yesterday added the names of several others to the Center’s Board of Trustees. But the name that made us do a double-take was billionaire Trish Duggan, Scientology’s wealthiest donor. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Exactly what does a Rockslam mean with regards to the pc? If you don’t know this you can miss on the pc, on the case, on the org and humanity. A ROCKSLAM MEANS A HIDDEN EVIL INTENTION ON THE SUBJECT OR QUESTION UNDER DISCUSSION OR AUDITING. Two things underlie insanity, or to be more specific, there are two causes and conditions both of which have been lumped together by man and called insanity. He could not of course define it as he didn’t know what caused it.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1976
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
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“The matter of communication is a very serious one. People who are wearing glasses have a break in communication — the communication between the outside world and their minds. It is something which makes it hard for them to see. Myopic astigmatism, unless caused by an accident, is a psychosomatic affair caused by the mind. There is a communication break relating to sight. Those breaks culminate in glasses. Statements in engrams like ‘You just can’t see anything’ will cause the command power to shut off vision. Those people who have achieved optimum personality often drop off the need for glasses.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 14, 1951
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“MOLLY McBRIDE and CLARISSE BARNETT are appointed Commodore’s Messengers. They are cadets in rank and wear a blue lanyard. When they have done their AB, Mission School 2nd Class, SSI and SSII, if they perform duty well, they will be made midshipmen. Anne Tidman as Cmdr’s Messenger I/C will assign their watches and groove them in (Terri Gillham is on Mission). Molly McBride and Clarisse Barnett should turn over any duties they have to the next in line on their posts and groove them in so as not to leave a hole. A poor turnover of former post can drag one back into it as Mr. Warren has learned lately to his sorrow!” — The Commodore, February 14, 1971
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“Grade 2 worth it? LRH is very simply a genius. I realized I am CAUSE. I am responsible for anything that ever happened to me, willingly or unwillingly; knowingly or unknowingly. Waves and waves of energy have emanated from my body and me for the past few days and I have addressed items and terminals I had attention on forever. My voice dropped a register during auditing. I had a higher pitched voice before and I just calmed the hell down during this auditing. I sound manlier, I talk slower, I don’t mumble my words so much, I listen attentively to others. I am very happy, I am really ready to go back in the workplace and see changes happening there with terminals. Curious to talk to my 2D (we are currently separated), curious to talk to anyone. My face changed, mass blew right of my face, I feel like I got a face lift and reconstructive surgery. My goodness. Oh and I perceive differently with my vision. I see layers of vision. It is a change of vision, it is a rehab of the Objectives wins I had before but to make it simpler to understand the MEST universe is right in front of me and closer and in full 3D, I AM the MEST universe if that makes sense. It’s not some nebulous weird thing that’s over there. It’s right there in front of me. Sometimes I say hi to it and smile and admire it, it seems to like that.”
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2000: Stacy Brooks reported that the Lisa McPherson Trust has already been talking to Scientologists, and some are prepared to leave. “I won’t go into any detail about who or where this person is, but as of yesterday afternoon there is another confirmed Miscavige Church of Scientology dropout. This was someone who had been drawn in by a management seminar. His wife called me last week, having found out about the LMT via the internet. She told the usual story: her husband thought he was going to a seminar about how to improve his business but it turned out to be a front for the C of S. Gradually he became more and more of a stranger to her and she began to be alarmed. He stopped consulting her before handing over large amounts of money to them. He started warning her not to criticize Scientology or he would leave her. One minute he would be raging at her, the next minute he would be ‘handling’ her. By the time she called me, she was ready to file for divorce just to keep him from giving the C of S the rest of their money. She broke into tears many times during our conversation, heartbroken that she was losing her husband to the C of S. I spent about three hours talking to this woman on the phone, educating her about what Scientology is and what the Church of Scientology is all about. She was greatly relieved to find an organization that could explain what was happening to her husband and her marriage. Yesterday I called to speak to the wife but the husband happened to answer the phone, and we ended up talking for about an hour. What did I think about Scientology? I told him I didn’t think the C of S should be encouraging him to divorce his wife simply because she was critical of the C of S’s heavy-handed tactics. I also told him I didn’t think he should be pressured to give them money without consulting his wife. He said he totally agreed with me about that, because he loves his wife and doesn’t like the amount of time he’s being told to spend away from her and his business. The bottom line is that he wants a repayment of the money he has on account that hasn’t been used. Here at the LMT we’re getting reports that a large group of long-time Scientologists are getting ready to leave Miscavige’s Church of Scientology.”
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“The idiots show up like clockwork on a Thursday, leave a couple of barely comprehensible comments and scurry away, and they’ve done their job for the week! I think Miscavige is overpaying them.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. DA’s response to appeal brief due April 15.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing February 24.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud, awaiting sentencing.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1.
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After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Judge’s tentative ruling in Leah Remini lawsuit: David Miscavige, YOU ARE SERVED!
[TWO years ago] Chicago’s big Scientology event looked like a bust: Will this city ever be ‘ideal’?
[THREE years ago] A day in the life of a pilgrim at Scientology’s spiritual mecca in Florida!
[FOUR years ago] Post-Super Bowl, Scientology is on fire and will soon clear the planet
[FIVE years ago] Masterson accusers in court today seek changes to deal with Scientology ‘arbitration’ motions
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s street theater in New York: A bid to head off a 4th ‘Aftermath’ season?
[SEVEN years ago] PROSECUTORS PREPARE CHARGES CARRYING LIFE SENTENCE FOR DANNY MASTERSON
[EIGHT years ago] 25 years ago today: Scientology leader David Miscavige’s ‘Nightline’ appearance
[NINE years ago] Karen de la Carriere: Scientology is smearing me again, and this time is hitting below the belt
[TEN years ago] More secrets from Scientology’s vanished entity, Narconon International
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology’s $100,000 girl records a video promoting a fundraising event in California
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology’s Spiffy Golden Era Studios Has Its Own Dentist!
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,175 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,670 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,185 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,735 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,725 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,111 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,606 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,910 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,781 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,333 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,674 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,241 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,160 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,328 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,910 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,169 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,206 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,922 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,486 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,801 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,976 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,658 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,995 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,849 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,964 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,326 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,735 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,133 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,009 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,574 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,085 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,341 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,449 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 14, 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
