TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Scientology is building up the hype for its next ‘Ideal Org’ opening, which is taking place in Puerto Rico. And we’re all invited, according to the staff there! Check out this warm video welcome. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“There was a discovery about a decade ago that drug withdrawal symptoms could be eased by objective processes. Such processes as the CCHs, 8-C, remedies of havingness and even TRs were found to aid a person in coming off drugs and became part of standard routine to accomplish this. In 1973 another observation was made, that the current civilization seemed to be regressing. «Regression» means a «return to earlier or more infantile behavior patterns». Men’s shoe styles had become little boy shoe styles; the most popular women singers were singing lullabies; cars were being treated like toys and abused rather than maintained. More recently it was observed that life attitudes had become less responsible, that «playing» took a higher value, that productivity was declining steeply, that people seemed to require more and more care by the state — and all of these things seemed to indicate that people were getting stuck at or going back to childhood or infancy.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1980
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“We have only 476 special terms, most of which mean what they mean in English. That’s right, that’s the whole vocabulary, 474 of these items. I wish elementary physics could say as much. And with only knowledge of 24 of these items and how to handle these items, you can make the blind see. You could also bring the dead back to life. Well, you think I’m kidding. That’s no trick. It’s whether or not they want to be alive that’s the point. I remember one black man that was busy dying and so on, and I looked him over and I, all I had to say was the magic words, you know? He’d been drowned and he hadn’t been drowned very long. It was very easy you know? And I said so-and-so and so-and-so and I found out he was connected with enough woe in life that it was no wonder that he had busily drowned. I just asked his friend who was standing there, ‘This man lead a happy life?’ ‘Oh boss,’ he says, ‘Oh no, no he have an awful time, awful time.’ I said, OK, cart him away.” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 21, 1961
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“Our M.O. Dr. Steve Jarvis has just had a 2 page spread article on Scientology in ‘GP,’ the Medical Doctors’ journal in the UK. It is a splendid article, pointing up Scn’s role in psychosomatic medicine. The magazine asked for an article, three MDs in Scn submitted them. Dr. Jarvis’s article won. Copies will be mailed to all parliaments. Coronet magazine in the US printed an article by me, preceding it with a SMERSH write up. However, the article calmly made nothing of the attack and reader opinion is that it will do us a lot of good. Say, I’m busy as all hell on half a hundred hats. What’s going on with the rest of you cats?” — The Commodore, January 21, 1969
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“I understand the soul types, I understand the soul families, I understand the hierarchies and I also know that a person can spend all eternity searching, multiple eternities, aeons upon aeons, lost… and never restore their Essence. I also comprehend that no amount of auditing the mind makes a scrap of difference to this because the restoration of the essence of the person is found outside the theta/mest construct and all that may be conceived of. Being of Light or Darkness, Adamite or Saturnine, whomever the person actually is, I accompany the person home, all way home and outside all to where the person restores their own divine essence and the person finds they are whole and complete, and completely free. Exit. Gone. So far no-one has left me with a dead body, yet they are well and truly gone for as long as they need to be and tell me they simply return out of compassion and kindness to tell me the story. Its an act of pure love, even for creatures of the dark side, and so now it seem I have free passage to walk the pits of hell as I accompany this type of lost soul home to their divine abodes which are the antithesis of all we know and hold to be sacred and true.”
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1998: Us magazine carried an article on Scientologist Jenna Elfman this week. “It’s another late afternoon on Fox Stage 21, home of the hit show Dharma and Greg. Elfman is remarkably unsurprised at her own success. She’s genuinely warm, but you know instantly not to mess with her. It’s the quiet confidence of someone who sits in a charmed circle, or in her case, a square – and at the four corners are her husband, her parents who come to every taping of the show, her acting teacher & mentor, Milton Katselas, and the Church of Scientology, of which Elfman has been a member since 1991. It’s clear that Scientology is important to Elfman, and she’s perhaps it’s best representative. While Tom Cruise, John Travolta and indeed, Kirstie Alley, field questions about their religion with weary defensiveness. Elfman chats away happily about it. ‘I think the people that misunderstand the church have a button on flowing support,’ says Elfman, puffing on a cigarette, her last vice. ‘I’m not hostile or critical of anything until I have picked it up myself. I don’t let people talk shit to me about other people. Read a book if you want to know what it is, and if you’re not going to read the book, keep your mouth shut.’ Elfman fields concerns about Scientology with the ease of a world-class goalie. Its cost? ‘You get counseling. You pay for it. If you want to see a therapist, you pay for it.’ It’s appearance as a cult? ‘Hubbard was just a man; he never claimed to be godlike.’ The perception that people can’t leave the church of their own free will? ‘I’ve never tried to leave the church, so I don’t know’.”
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“You’re nothing around here unless you’ve been corrected or admonished by The Proprietor at least once.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: 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] Briefing not meant for the public: LA fires are ‘historic opportunity’ for Scientology
[TWO years ago] Scientology, abuse, and forgiveness: Val Ross on the men who did her wrong
[THREE years ago] PODCAST: Karen de la Carriere on the ‘Ls’ — Scientology’s nuttiest ‘technology’?
[FOUR years ago] After huge court victory, women suing Danny Masterson and Scientology issue statement
[FIVE years ago] With not guilty plea, Danny Masterson assigned a trial judge his prosecutor knows well
[SIX years ago] Scientology lets Diana Hubbard out of the compound again — what’s the occasion?
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology sells miracles, and we can’t get enough of them
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology front group targets unwitting indigenous people to spread its propaganda
[NINE years ago] Scientology is still a fraud in France, but it gets some revenge against anti-cult group there
[TEN years ago] When L. Ron Hubbard tried to convince the BBB that Scientology was raking it in
[ELEVEN years ago] How Scientology responds to adversity: A classic example from its golden era
[TWELVE years ago] Where is Scientology keeping Barbara Cordova Oliver?
[THIRTEEN years ago] Isabella Cruise and Eddie Frencher Reunite After He Leaves Scientology’s “Sea Org”
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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 3,515 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,019 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,525 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,075 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,065 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,451 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,946 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,250 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,901 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,119 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,673 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,014 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,585 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,501 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,668 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,250 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,509 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,261 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,826 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,141 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,316 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,998 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,335 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,188 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,304 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,666 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,077 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,465 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,349 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,914 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,425 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,685 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,789 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 21, 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
