TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Once again Luke Y. Thompson (AV Club) gives us an exclusive film review you’ll find only here at the Bunker. He last provided us a look at ‘M:I – Dead Reckoning Part One’ and before that what we still consider the most truthful review of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ you’ll find anywhere. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Children are usually very burdened cases and can be hard to C/S on Dianetics if it hits this life only which will leave the pc wide open to key-in and at the age of 20 be found all keyed-in ‘with all grades run.’ I find they are jammed into fiction stories, education, books and movies and run these like engrams. These children speak of “remembering” all the time. They say they can’t go backtrack ‘because they don’t remember.’ They don’t seem to take it from pictures. Contrary to psychology theories and popular belief I find children in very rough case shape, nervous, frightened, griefy, etc. They get stuck in the books and movies they see.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1978
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
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“As far as publicity is concerned the general public has been slammed around about Dianetics and they don’t know whether Dianetics is a cough drop or a new cult down in Arizona. Nobody really knows very much about it. Out in the general public they ask you if it is a cult, or if it is this or if it is that. I suddenly woke up to the fact that I was under-evaluating it. I was trying to tell people ‘Well, this is sort of a psychotherapy and it does this and that,’ rather apologetically. And I said to somebody bluntly the other day, ‘Why, Dianetics is the science of handling life; you know, handling life forces!’ They looked at me and blinked and I said, ‘Yes, you know, a fellow starts downhill and starts down toward death. Well, Dianetics picks him back up again.’ They went away in a trance! Actually, isn’t that what we are doing? The new theta-MEST theory makes that so apparent, and the results you get follow in so closely that, actually, we are doing just that.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 15, 1951
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“US STATS HAVE JUST GONE OVER THE MILLION MARK!!! AOSHUK IS OVER $47,000!” — The Commodore, May 15, 1971
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“The first goal when working with OMNI processing is to reach the OMNI state (to make contact with the original Statics). If there is no extension and contact, then further correct actions are impossible. We should get in contact with those 10*10^40 players who create this universe.”
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1998: The jury in the Keith Henson case decided to award Scientology $75,000 this week. The San Jose Mercury News published an article on the case. “A Palo Alto engineer will pay a stiff price for thumbing his nose at the Church of Scientology by publishing its teachings on the Internet. After less than a day of deliberations, a San Jose federal jury this week ordered Keith Henson to pay $75,000 to the Religious Technology Center, a wing of the Scientology organization, for deliberately violating copyright laws. The verdict came after a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Ronald Whyte. Henson, who has warned that the case could have a chilling effect on free speech on the Internet, may face further penalties for putting the church’s published works on-line. Under federal copyright laws, Henson can be ordered to pay the technology center’s legal fees and costs, which could add thousands of dollars to the judgment. Henson has always maintained that he posted the material to alert the public to church positions that amounted to ‘medical and legal abuses.’ Henson and other church critics posted transcripts of the trial on various web sites the past week to highlight what was transpiring in Whyte’s courtroom. Those postings might land Henson in further hot water with the judge: The Internet postings include a substantial portion of Henson’s testimony that took place in closed session because it involved discussion of the secret church documents. Whyte ordered the transcripts sealed, but they have wound up on the Web. Henson said the material was placed online inadvertently and he apologized for the mistake. But church officials may seek further sanctions. Despite the jury’s verdict, Henson remained unapologetic Wednesday. ‘It is amazing the trouble you can get into for trying to warn the public about health hazards,’ Henson said. ‘This (trial) was about saying it’s proper to use copyright (laws) to prevent public discussion of criminal activity. This was just a loss of a battle in a larger war.'”
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“Eva Gabor was awesome in Green Acres, which was one of the most underrated, surrealist shows of all time. It’s worthy of Lynch or Buñuel.”
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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 May 14.
— ‘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 May 12.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud. Pre-sentencing conference was held April 4. Sentencing hearing scheduled for May 5.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
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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] First time in English: Rare interview David Miscavige gave during Germany crisis
[TWO years ago] Scientology celebrates Nancy Cartwright for upping her donations to $21 million
[THREE years ago] Letters from Scientology’s celebrities that charmed the pants off LA’s city council
[FOUR years ago] Scientology chiropractor Eric Berg called out by son in viral TikTok video
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s center specializing in auditing your infant is back open in Florida!
[SIX years ago] John Travolta’s daughter makes her own Scientology splash at awards ceremony
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology files notice of appeal in time-wasting federal court attack on forced-abortion case
[EIGHT years ago] DRONE FLYOVER: An even closer look at where Scientology is keeping Shelly Miscavige
[NINE years ago] Scientology takes on the evil psychs at the APA, and more in our weekly social media review!
[TEN years ago] Las Vegas attorney Ryan Hamilton makes it 29 lawsuits against Scientology’s drug rehab
[ELEVEN years ago] TIZIANO LUGLI: A new short film about Scientology and ‘slavery’
[TWELVE years ago] CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT DENIES SCIENTOLOGY PETITION IN FORCED-ABORTION CASE
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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 3,265 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,760 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,275 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,825 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,815 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,201 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,696 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,000 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,869 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,423 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,764 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,331 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,250 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,418 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,000 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,259 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,296 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,012 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,576 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,891 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,066 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,748 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,085 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,939 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,054 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,416 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,825 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,221 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,099 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,664 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,175 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,431 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,539 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 15, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
