TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: As 2026 began at midnight on the East Coast, Scientology once again posted photos from its New Year’s celebration, which was actually taped a couple of weeks ago in Los Angeles. And right in the middle of the front row were a couple of actors we recognized. Check it out! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Whenever I have a new meter to test I put someone on the cans, give him an R-factor on what I’m going to do, and then I just reach over and pinch the person. Then I
ask him to recall the pinch and when he does I see a meter read occur. I know then whether that meter works or not. The theory behind this is quite simple. Life has the ability to register an impingement and to retain it or reduplicate it. Life has that ability and that is all the meter measures. So, when you do a pinch test you’ll see the meter read. You can actually see the meter read before you pinch if you reach up and then don’t pinch. It is simply a matter of reactions. The meter is measuring reactions to impingements in life. That is all there is to it. In a pinch test it is measuring the reaction to the impingement of the pinch.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1980
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“There’s lots been doing lately and there’s lots of road ahead. If there’s ever been a point where we jumped off this is it. You know, we jumped off in 1950 — something on the order of the Christians going into the Roman arena. And those psychiatrists were very hungry lions; they were very hungry, very hungry — very proud, very proud lions, beating their paws against their somewhat mangy chests, saying, ‘We are the bosses of this here arena.’ That’s what they thought. And today I hope that you will get information which will permit, in another year, a Scientologist to say, ‘Scientology processes more psychiatrists in any given year than any other psychotherapy.’ That’d be fun, wouldn’t it? Nice ad in The Saturday Evening Post.” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 1, 1960
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“OLD 1970: So Good-bye 1970. It was a tough year on the world. But it was a great year for development. Both tech and Admin research results were the greatest since 1950. All the years contributed but the payoff was 1970. So Happy 1971, AD21. Let’s make the new tools take the world.” — The Commodore, January 1, 1971
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“The science of creating advanced spirit beings is not new. Scientology is simply a watered-down version of original Egyptian technology to create those advanced spirit beings. You see the similarity in symbolism because their “spiritual advancement sciences” (science in this case being a religion) emanate from the same source, the ruler(s) of this Matrix. They (rulers) have had this science for millions of years, compared to this Matrix lifetime which is between 12 and 13 thousand years. This ‘knowledge’ can be altered, improved upon or made less effective. The abilities gained are given and in the same way can be taken away by the same Watchers that rule. The original purpose of Scientology which was not ‘to clear the planet’ failed. So they pulled the plug. What we have now is a chaotic mishmash of Scientology offshoots going in every direction but only after physical body death will most Scientologists see where their own brand of Scientology has taken them.”
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1998: The secret agreement signed by Scientology and the Internal Revenue Service in 1993 was made public this week by the Wall Street Journal. “The Church of Scientology paid the federal government $12.5 million as part of a broad 1993 settlement with the Internal Revenue Service under which the church’s main branch secured its tax-exempt status. According to a copy of the settlement, details of which have never before been made public, the church also agreed to set up a special ‘church tax-compliance committee,’ composed of high-level church officials, to monitor its adherence to the pact and to laws governing nonprofit organizations. Further, the church agreed to drop thousands of lawsuits filed against the IRS in courts around the country and to stop assisting people or groups suing the agency based upon claims prior to Oct. 1, 1993, the settlement date. Any Scientology member or organization that sues based on those claims could face IRS penalties. The IRS canceled the payroll taxes and penalties it had assessed against certain church entities and seven church officials, including church leader David Miscavige. (The pact doesn’t specify the amount of these bills). It also dropped liens and levies it had filed against these entities and officials for these bills. The church tax-compliance committee was required to give the IRS annual reports for 1993 through 1995 disclosing how much the church paid its 20 top-compensated officials, as well as the finances of 23 member churches, businesses and organizations. Failure to file the reports could result in penalties of as much as $75,000 for each committee member. The IRS can impose as much as $50 million in penalties on certain church entities if the IRS finds that they repeatedly spend church funds on noncharitable purposes, including enriching themselves. The penalties would be in effect through 1999. The IRS dropped its audits of 13 Scientology organizations, including the mother church, the Church of Scientology International, and agreed not to audit the church for any year prior to 1993. The IRS also dropped litigation to enforce summonses for church records. Regulating the activities of churches has long been a prickly area for the IRS.”
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“In the 1980s Scientology had 100,000+ members. Today, it has 20,000 or less, plus the more competent members have left. In the 70s & 80s there was Operation Snow White, Operations Daniel and Dynamite (Paulette Cooper) etc. Today, It’s Squirrel Busters, Freedumb Magazine and smear sites no one sees. We have THEM running scared. OSA is a joke.”
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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. Appeal now fully briefed, waiting for 2nd Appellate District court to set a hearing date. Masterson has also submitted a habeas corpus petition.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Pleaded guilty on Nov 10 to a 17-year prison sentence (eligible for parole in two to three more years). Awaiting transfer to state prison.
— Aaron Matthes charged for SA of child under 12 years old: OT Scientologist facing multiple mandatory life sentences. Next pretrial court hearing set for Feb 2.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal. Leah’s respondent’s brief is due February 11.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ 15 days of arbitration completed, Val waiting for further word from the IJC.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal. Appeal fully briefed. Motion to replace Jane Does’ AI-tainted brief denied by court. Awaiting a court hearing date.
— 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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Other links: The prosecution of Danny Masterson. Leah Remini’s Fair Game Podcast. Leah Remini’s A&E Series. Scientology’s Celebrities, from A to Z. Bryan Seymour’s suppressed series, 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 rings in 2025 in Los Angeles: The photos!
[TWO years ago] It was a conversation about Scientology she’d wanted to have forever. And then it happened.
[THREE years ago] The Scientology oversharer explains the thinking behind donating so much
[FOUR years ago] Ten years later: Debbie Cook’s indictment of Scientology under David Miscavige, annotated
[FIVE years ago] VIDEO: Ex-JW activist Lloyd Evans chased from home by Croatian earthquake
[SIX years ago] Mike Rinder: What the Church of Scientology has coming in 2020
[SEVEN years ago] Tonight, Leah Remini exposes the crazy grift of Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs’
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology watchers, start making your plans for HowdyCon 2018 in the Windy City!
[NINE years ago] Five years later: Debbie Cook’s indictment of Scientology under David Miscavige, annotated
[TEN years ago] Scientology watchers, we’re kicking off the new year by revealing the poster for HowdyCon 2016
[ELEVEN years ago] A Scientology untold history special report: ‘My lunch with Quentin Hubbard’
[TWELVE years ago] BUNKER SPECIAL: David Touretzky on L. Ron Hubbard, Mark Twain, and Mary Baker Eddy
[THIRTEEN years ago] Another Indie Goes All the Way: Simi Valley Ditches Scientology For Good
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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 3,495 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,999 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,505 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,055 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,045 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,431 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,926 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,230 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,881 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,099 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,653 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,994 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,565 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,481 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,648 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,230 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,489 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,241 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,806 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,121 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,296 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,978 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,315 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,168 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,284 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,646 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,057 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,445 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,329 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,894 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,405 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,665 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,769 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 1, 2026 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter.
Our book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is 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)
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Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
