TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Even more bizarre features from Scientology’s ‘Flag Building’ that were leaked to us in 2012, a year before the building opened. What do these space cadets need with a ‘pain station’ or ‘infinite pit’? We don’t know, but these renderings are still fun to see. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Auditing is aimed at reactivity. You run what reacts on the meter because it reacts and is therefore part of the reactive mind. A read means there is charge present and available to run. Running reading items, flows and questions is the only way to make a pc better. This is our purpose in auditing. To run unreading flows, etc. requires the pc to run ‘analytical’ answers or to ‘run’ things that aren’t there or to put something there to ‘run.’ The most trouble you can get a pc into is running him on uncharged items or flows. For an auditor to sit in session watching a meter that didn’t read, looking expectantly at the pc for an answer to an uncharged question, flow or item is a GAE and will wreck cases faster than anything you can do.” — 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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“The history of Guk should be known to you. For a long time we had been scouting for the one-shot Clear, whereby a person walks in, you take a hypodermic syringe and shoot it in his arm, he goes up against the ceiling and comes down Clear. And we had been talking about this for some time as something feasible. Around 15 July 1950 a chemical engineer (the ex-director of research at the Bloch Chemical Company) told us about an atropine derivative that might be used.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 29, 1950
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“BULL: Do not snort suddenly behind Peter Gilham. It is a tender subject. Not every day does one get plowed 15 feet down the street by a made 1,000 lb. Bull! The main damage was hurt feelings. A general good time was had by all.” — The Commodore, September 29, 1970
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“The Freezone is going to have to be unified so that we can establish orgs where families can go within easy reach. I have been saying this all along. There are no youngsters to train as auditors and when all us in our 50s+ are gone, who will audit anybody?”
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1995: Judge Whyte has ruled similarly to judges in Colorado and Virginia. The cos has been ordered to return the seized materials to Dennis. Dennis
posted this week a list of the items they have not yet returned. “1) Any of the Sekrit Droppings they took from my house on February 13th. 2) The tape backup they took of my complete hard drive. 3) My February bank statement
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“More people are killed by domestic pigs around the world annually than are killed by sharks.”
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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] Scientology must be thriving in the biggest city in the world, right?
[TWO years ago] Scientology’s elder abuse: The legal demand that even the church couldn’t ignore
[THREE years ago] Double storms hit Scientology: Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Mike Rinder
[FOUR years ago] Appeals court moves back hearing, and asks if Scientology arbitration is ‘neutral’
[FIVE years ago] Leah Remini podcast: Attorney Ray Jeffrey on Marty Rathbun’s betrayal
[SIX years ago] Who had the biggest booth at the Black Caucus DC confab this month? Scientology, that’s who.
[SEVEN years ago] Inside Jesse Prince’s book about Scientology: Doing L. Ron Hubbard’s dirty work
[EIGHT years ago] Turning hurricane chaos into gold? Scientology might learn something from L. Ron Hubbard
[NINE years ago] ‘The Unbreakable Miss Lovely’ audiobook on sale, and we’re doing a Reddit AMA at noon
[TEN years ago] O Canada: We’re in Vancouver today, getting our British Columbia on. Let’s talk Scientology!
[ELEVEN years ago] Jon Atack takes his presentation — ‘Scientology: The Cult of Greed’ — to Russia
[TWELVE years ago] Sunday Funnies: Nothing But Unstoppable Scientology Expansion in Every Direction!
[THIRTEEN years ago] Michael Lewis (Johnny’s Dad) Scheduled for Scientology Event Tonight
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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 3,401 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,905 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,411 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,961 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,951 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,337 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,832 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,136 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,787 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,005 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,559 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,900 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,471 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,387 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,554 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,136 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,395 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,432 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,148 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,712 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,027 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,202 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,884 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,221 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,074 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,190 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,552 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,963 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,351 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,235 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,800 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,311 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,571 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,675 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 29, 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, 1995-2024 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2024), 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
