TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The showdown going on between Scientology and local politicians over its big tent for an annual gala in the UK heated up even more as a local town council threw its refusal of the church’s plans into the mix. Alex Barnes-Ross updates us things are looking dicier by the minute! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The power of modern auditing shouldn’t be underestimated. It was pretty hot in 1950, but realize there were 28 years of research and development. This has been enormously stepped up. For 28 years, apparently, the power of auditing has been underestimated. With better trained auditors than ever, and with their TRs and metering really in, the C/S who is keeping tech in on his lines can expect a lot more of this sort of thing, so he must be alert to it, without at the same time going delusory or failing to handle cases that really are bogged for quite some other reason. Given standard tech used by standard auditors and C/Sed by standard C/Ses, there is no reason why we cannot Clear the planet.” — 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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“Do you know that absolutely standard tech, complete, proper, hair line standard tech, used in organizations throughout the world, will at least triple the stats of each within 90 days? Couldn’t help it. And if it was really applied in a business-like fashion, and nobody messed it up in any way, shape, or form, one of our Division 5 people said we might even be able to take the planet within a year. It is hot.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 24, 1968
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“SORE ARM: ‘They take this spike, see, and they stab you and then fill you up with germs, see, and when your arm recovers then you find out it has to all be done again. And then you can go into any cholera area and not kick the bucket. And you don’t get quarantined and you can go to warm ports and not have to freeze to death all winter. So that’s why you get a sore arm.’ At least that’s how it was all explained to me.” — The Commodore September 24, 1970
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“As far back as the Egyptian hyrogliphs they called what we know as OT today ‘the advanced spirit being’. On the other side of the coin, Scripture, before its polluted version which exists today, refers to this as sorcery. Scientology is simply the practice of Crowleyan/Satanic sorcery. Thus, we see today its implosion thru all its offshoots, Scientologists at war with one another and the love that LRH talks about in What is Greatness is non existent. In general what we are seeing on Earth, among all its religions and philosophies are simply diluted versions of Egyptian sorcery.”
1997: The Los Angeles Times reported this week that Scientology’s textbooks were rejected by the California state review board. “State education officials on Monday rejected the latest version of a series of textbooks inspired by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, saying the books failed to properly depict disabled people and minorities. The publisher, Bridge Publications, is seeking to have five books based on Hubbard’s educational ideas approved for use in California public classrooms as supplemental texts. But in a two-page letter faxed to the publisher Monday, the state Department of Education said revisions to the original series failed to adequately address concerns raised by a 20-member citizens review panel. The panel is one of several across the state that review supplemental materials to ensure that the works comply with the state’s social content laws. The effort to include the books on the state-approved list – allowing, but not obligating, schools to buy them – has raised concerns among some educators and civil libertarians. The books were not approved by the state because they misrepresented the disabled and minorities, state officials said. For example, disabled characters were shown with canes, representative more of the aging process than of a disability, said Ruth McKenna, the state’s chief deputy superintendent of public instruction. A disabled character in the texts also was shown in a wheelchair alone, isolated from others. In addition, the books did not depict enough disabled people. Bridge Publications had originally submitted the texts to the state in May 1996, only to have them rejected later that year. The firm submitted revised versions in August. According to the state’s letter, written by McKenna, the citizens panel concluded that the revisions were too weak. In the case of minorities, for example, the state said the changes were accomplished by shading the faces of existing characters. One character ended up appearing white on certain pages but as an ethnic minority on other pages.”
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“Yesterday you were merely irritating. Today you’ve placed yourself on the menu.”
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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] Take it from them: Scientology is creating a new civilization of super-beings!
[TWO years ago] VIDEO: Independent Scientologists protest at Scientology HQ in Los Angeles
[THREE years ago] PODCAST: Mark Bunker on Scientology’s sabotage of progress in Clearwater
[FOUR years ago] Scientology OT 8 and ‘STAND’ blogger who expressed anti-vax views dies of Covid
[FIVE years ago] VALERIE HANEY SEEKS WRIT: Victims’ rights groups show support, Scientology cries bigotry
[SIX years ago] Another national census is in, and Scientology comes in at a mighty 0.007 percent!
[SEVEN years ago] A Scientology enforcer dies, and one of his former victims is the only one to eulogize him
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology got plenty of photo ops out of hurricanes in Texas and Florida. But did it help?
[NINE years ago] Flirt with Scientology, and its dogged letter writers will hound you forever
[TEN years ago] Leah Remini book out Nov. 3: ‘Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology’
[ELEVEN years ago] Rathbun v. Scientology: Another appeals court hearing, this time with everything on the line
[TWELVE years ago] JASON BEGHE ON LEAH REMINI: She’s Right, Scientology Does Want Her to Fail
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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 3,396 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,900 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,406 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,956 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,946 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,332 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,827 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,131 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,782 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,000 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,554 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,895 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,466 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,382 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,549 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,131 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,390 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,427 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,143 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,707 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,022 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,197 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,879 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,216 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,069 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,185 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,547 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,958 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,346 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,230 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,795 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,306 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,566 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,670 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 24, 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
