TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: So much of what Scientology focuses on now is leveraging the few people it has left. You see it in the recovery efforts to bring back former members, and getting active members to bring in everyone they possibly can. We have a fun new example from one of our helpful readers. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“In locating, the auditor is getting the past physical location. E.g. the auditor gets the direction, distance, what galaxy, star, planet, country, etc., pinpointing it down to the exact location in space where it happened. But these items are not taken up rotely; one uses the questions that apply. For example, if it occurred ‘next door’ one would not ask ‘What planet?’ Or if the pc has said it’s ‘two years ago’ when dating, in locating one doesn’t then ask ‘What galaxy?’ as, of course, it’s this one. Or what star, either. If you start asking ‘What galaxy?’ on an incident on Earth the pc is thrown backtrack. And if it happened outside a town in the open you wouldn’t ask what city, house, or street or room, either. You must use the questions that apply.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1979
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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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“Unfortunately, Black Dianetics is inherent in Dianetics. In 1945, this was all the Dianetics there was: how to drive people crazy, how to foul up political systems, how to restimulate individuals just by talking to them, without planting engrams. And in addition to this, how to interrupt life force in an individual. We haven’t gone into that very much. It is a wonderfully smooth way of committing murder.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 17, 1951
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“No one is to play the piano in A Deck Lounge without the written permission of Lt. Cmdr. Diana Hubbard.” — Lt. Nikki Freedman, Sun Deck I/C, September 17, 1971
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“All truly exceptional geniouses will, and perhaps have to be, quite offensive to us, that’s the way things Have to work in this crazy universe. You just can’t get the GREATEST without also getting some horrible personality qualities. The greatest human beings will learn how to assist the Greatest for the greatest good of all Dynamics despite the horrible qualities they have to maneuover around, quietly, and successfully. God Bless LRH forever, and forevermore.”
1997: A transcript of the Howard Stern radio show, with call-in guest Senator Alphonse D’Amato was posted this week. “STERN: What?! You’re hanging out with that wacko? D’AMATO: John Travolta came to Capitol Hill yesterday and testified about the Scientologists who are being persecuted and being denied jobs and being boycotted…. STERN: And what did you do? Did you throw him out of there? D’AMATO: His films aren’t being permitted to be shown in Germany because he’s a Scientologist. STERN: All right, do me a favor. Will you blow up John Travolta too? Did you actually hang out with the Travolta? D’AMATO: No, but he’s a very nice guy. STERN: And where do you stand on Scientology? That can’t possibly be a religion can it? D’AMATO: Well listen, I think you have a right to believe whatever you want. If you want to believe in the sun god I will defend your right, Howard, to believe in whatever you want. STERN: All right, listen to me, Senator. But, in no way I can believe that my senator believes L. Ron Hubbard is god. You should have thrown Travolta right out of there, kicked him down the steps. Do you know John Travolta thinks he can heal people with his hands? D’AMATO: No, I don’t know that. If he believes that, that’s his belief. STERN: I can’t believe it. What are you going to do about Germany now? D’AMATO: Well, what we have done, our commission, Helsinki Commission, will be looking into a number of the charges — people who have lost their jobs because… Yeah, you know, ordinary working families. One lost her license, she ran an employment center, it was revoked just because it was revealed that she was a Scientologist, and they wanted her to renounce this.”
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“I’ve always wanted a goat. A small place in the country with a goat, a couple of pigs, some chickens, a duck or two and of course the usual cats and dogs…oh, and a semi-tamed crow or raven.”
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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 August 13.
— ‘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 December 1.
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 Does’ response to Scientology’s appeal brief submitted July 30. Scientology’s reply due October 20.
— 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] David Minkoff’s Scientology quackery: the psychiatrist expert’s assessment
[TWO years ago] A Julian Swartz production: The Scientology day-care from hell
[THREE years ago] PODCAST: Jesse Prince is here to shake up your understanding of Scientology
[FOUR years ago] Scientology makes another attempt to defeat its terrible image, this time with Millennial OTs!
[FIVE years ago] Scientology chiro Dennis Nobbe drops dead after being informed he’s going to jail
[SIX years ago] Why isn’t Scientology’s ship the Freewinds hauling emergency supplies to the Bahamas?
[SEVEN years ago] Visit to London Ideal Org shows that the Scientology bubble is still firmly in place
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology leader David Miscavige has empty buildings all over the world — here’s a rundown
[NINE years ago] With Jason Lee out, what does it mean for Scientology’s tightest celebrity clique?
[TEN years ago] Surreal encounter at Scientology’s secretive Int Base shows up in Danish documentary
[ELEVEN years ago] New leaked videos from the super beings at Scientology!
[TWELVE years ago] Jenna Miscavige Hill Talks to Us As Her Book Comes Out in Paperback
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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 3,389 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,893 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,399 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,949 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,939 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,325 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,820 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,124 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,775 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,993 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,547 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,888 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,459 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,375 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,542 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,124 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,383 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,420 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,136 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,700 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,015 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,190 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,872 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,209 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,062 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,178 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,540 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,951 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,339 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,223 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,788 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,299 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,559 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,663 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 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
