TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Today we present Scientology’s really big whales, the megadonors who have given at least $1 million each to church leader David Miscavige’s legal slush fund, with the trophies they were given at this year’s IAS gala. Recognize anyone? [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Engrams, secondaries, locks all add up to mental masses, forces, energies, time, which express themselves in countless different ways such as pain, misemotion, feelings, old perceptions and a billion billion thought combinations buried in the masses as significances. A thetan can postulate or say or reason anything. Thus there is an infinity of significances. A thetan is natively capable of logical thought. This becomes muddied by outpoints held in by mental forces such as pictures of heavy experiences. As the masses and forces accumulated and copied from living build up, the logic potential becomes reduced and illogical results occur.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1980
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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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“Every thetan is, unless he’s knocked flat out — you know, unless he’s been eating some of the recent food preservatives — this fellow is operating to some degree, even if he’s just an effect. You see, he’s, he still can put out an impulse. See, he’s mostly effect, but he can put out a little bit of an impulse, see? Well, actually that would be an interiorized thetan who was very wog. And the word ‘wog,’ of course, is in essence a ‘worthy oriental gentleman’ as been defined by the Royal Air Force. There’s nothing derogatory in being called a wog. As a matter of fact, that was the source of a general order issued in Egypt on the complaint of the Egyptian government. The air force officers were calling Egyptians wogs. So the commanding officer defined it. And he said, well, wog, that means ‘worthy oriental gentleman,’ and insisted his officers use it. Those were in the days when the Empire wasn’t dead! Anyway, this means a common, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, garden-variety humanoid. And a garden-variety humanoid means a person who has human characteristics. By which we define not that he is human in his treatment of things, he isn’t. It’s simply that he is a body, he is a body.” — L. Ron Hubbard, November 29, 1966
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“DARBY: The DARBY started at midnight last night. See ED 11 Flag for the thrilling details of this race. You too can be a winner.” — The Commodore, November 29, 1971
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“Understanding how theta works in a MEST universe on a continuous basis is reversing the downhill spiral. You can never learn it enough. If you don’t audit thetans you end up alone with unconscious beings. And no comm lines. Scientology is a breakdown of MEST universe into its most basic components. If you even clear a planet that would be like wow, utopia. That’s why I haven’t given up on Scientology like others, just in case it can change. It has the structure there, just needs to get rid of the paranoia. Or run grade 4 on Miscavige so he stops running his 3rd dynamic surfacs.”
2000: Critics of Scientology held protests in Clearwater this week to mark the anniversary of the death of Lisa McPherson. From the St. Petersburg Times: “The protest will be tempered by a court order issued Thursday that outlines specific locations where the critics can and cannot picket. Jeff Jacobsen, one of the protest organizers, said he was expecting about 40 people to participate. Some flew in from Germany and Canada, he said, while others are local residents. He said he expects the protesters to obey the injunction, even though they disagree with it. ‘It’s a huge violation of our First Amendment and free speech rights,’ Jacobsen said. ‘Every year they do something to try and stop us. This year, they relied heavily on the injunction.’ Church of Scientology spokesman Ben Shaw dismissed the protest as unimportant and the critics as ‘hate mongers.’ He said the church had no plans to react to the critics. The church was grateful that Circuit Judge Thomas Penick granted an injunction that specifically names a handful of known church critics and the Lisa McPherson Trust, an anti-Scientology watchdog group that set up offices downtown in January. The injunction includes 10 maps of church facilities with color codes designating where critics may stage their protest. Pickets can be across the street from the Fort Harrison Hotel, but not on the sidewalk directly in front of it. They can picket on the east side of the Clearwater Bank Building, but not on the west side. It also specifies that the critics and church members must stay 10 feet away from each other and cannot harass one another.”
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“Scientology is a racist philosophy. It’s anti homo sapiens.”
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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] On Black Friday, Scientology has yet another way it wants your money!
[TWO years ago] Scientology leader David Miscavige’s IAS speech in its entirety — the transcript
[THREE years ago] Scientology down 23 PERCENT from 2011 to 2021 in England census data released today
[FOUR years ago] Scientology’s academic champion: An eager copyright attorney who shills with alacrity
[FIVE years ago] Another social media harvest that reveals Scientology’s planetary takeover
[SIX years ago] Scientology moves to dismiss the ‘Jane Doe’ lawsuit in Miami, and we have the docs
[SEVEN years ago] While Leah Remini asks for government action, the government covers for Scientology overseas
[EIGHT years ago] DOX: Sworn testimony that a U.S. state was too afraid to take on the Church of Scientology
[NINE years ago] As you watch Leah Remini’s show tonight, keep these people disappeared by Scientology in mind
[TEN years ago] Jonny Jacobsen: Why the Moscow ban on Scientology may be built on shaky foundations
[ELEVEN years ago] Jon Atack excavates the Scientology mind for L. Ron Hubbard’s most harmful implants
[TWELVE years ago] Tonight: Scientology Gets Its IAS Gala On — Let’s Get Dauntless, Defiant, and Resolute!
[THIRTEEN years ago] Scientology’s Master Spies
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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 3,462 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,966 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,472 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,022 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,012 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,398 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,893 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,197 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,848 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,066 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,620 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,961 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,532 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,448 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,615 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,197 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,456 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,493 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,208 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,773 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,088 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,263 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,945 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,282 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,135 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,251 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,613 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,024 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,412 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,296 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,861 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,372 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,632 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,736 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on November 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, 20 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
