TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The Save the Garden movement in Clearwater, Florida announced yesterday they have met their goal of gathering 7,000 signatures to place a ballot initiative which could slow Scientology’s takeover. And now they ask, will the city council do the right thing and fast track this? [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The thing that characterizes OBJECTIVE processes is that they bring about interaction between the individual and the existing physical universe. This is different than SUBJECTIVE processes in that these interact between the individual and his part or himself. Objective processes do several things: they remedy havingness, they locate the person in his environment, they establish direct communication with the auditor and, last but not least, they bring a person to present time. ‘Present time’ is a very important factor in mental and spiritual sanity and ability. A human being can be stuck in literally thousands of different past moments. His behavior and attitudes are influenced by such past incidents and experiences. As a matter of fact a person can be totally regressed and can be in an incident of the past to the entire exclusion of present time.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1980
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“Authorship of the universe is something which has been in question for many years. People have been arguing about this for a long time. Even in ancient times the Christian argument with the conservative, status quo religion of Rome involved the creation of the universe. Who created the universe? In the early days of Greece, you found the various factions fighting over this fact of the actual creator of the universe. People have a tendency to run it backwards and try to find an earlier creator or a master creator, or this and that. What are they looking for? They’re looking for you! You’re hunted! To that degree, you’re hunted. Fascinating.” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 22, 1957
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“SMERSH: We have heard directly from the head of Smersh ‘Ban the Bomb Carstairs’ whose contempt for anyone else’s intelligence leads him to state he knows nothing about any attacks on Scientology. Ding, ding, ding, here comes the wagon! Plans for Ship Operation. I haven’t got any. Have you? Nice warm sun.” — The Commodore, January 22, 1970
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“Ron was taken out of the game in 1972 and later just ‘mocked up’ to explain all the alter-is of the tech in the next 14 years till his alleged death. In this wise the global enslavers took not only control over the church, but they destroyed the workable technology, the Bridge and made sure, that no one can go Clear and OT any more. Neither in the Church nor in the Freezone. As long as the people believe in all the revisions by the new management since about 1973, especially since 1978.”
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1999: An article in the New Times, a Phoenix area alternative paper, described the efforts of Jeff Jacobsen to protest against Scientology, and the
revenge Scientology has taken against him. “Jacobsen’s ‘religious bigotry’ is never spelled out in leaflets or picket signs; nowhere do Scientologists identify themselves on their protest materials. On a church member’s Web site, meanwhile, Jacobsen’s character and family business are maligned: ‘Like a housewife who constantly harps about her neighbors, when you open Jeff’s closet, all the dirty diapers and dishpans fall out.’ …Before organizing the trip, Jacobsen surfed the Internet for information on Clearwater, and landed on the city’s home page. Clicking his way to the police department’s site, Jacobsen noticed that homicide detectives were asking for the public’s help in solving the ‘suspicious death’ of a woman named Lisa McPherson. The notice asked anyone who had information
about McPherson to contact the police. It also included McPherson’s last known address. Jacobsen realized, to his surprise, that he recognized that address. It was the same street number as the Fort Harrison Hotel, the Scientology mecca Jacobsen had planned on picketing. Although the police notice made no mention of either the hotel or Scientology, Jacobsen suspected that McPherson’s ‘suspicious death’ might involve the church itself. He typed up a brief mention of McPherson in a newsletter he sends to other church critics, and mailed a copy to Tampa Tribune reporter Cheryl Waldrip. [Concerning Lisa McPherson on his picket sign…] She, to us, represents all of the other people who have been hurt by Scientology,’ Jacobsen says. ‘Why did people wear bracelets for soldiers lost in Vietnam? They didn’t
know those soldiers. How could you care about somebody you don’t know? You do. You just do.'”
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“Scientology doesn’t have to murder people. It just drives them crazy and they end up murdering others or they kill themselves. Scientology may have murdered someone in the past, but there’s no conclusive proof — and critics talking like it’s a fact just makes them look kinda obsessed and a little bit nuts to outsiders.”
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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] Scientology bragged on new Africa drug rehab, now it’s accused of stiffing workers
[TWO years ago] More new Scientology harassment detail in the lawsuit from Danny Masterson’s victims
[THREE years ago] Grant Cardone selling superhuman med beds to the wealthy sounds very Scientological
[FOUR years ago] Scientology is begging members to download the new Freewinds app, and we’re green with envy
[FIVE years ago] As Kevin Trudeau’s prison stint nears end, his pitch sounds more like Scientology than ever
[SIX years ago] Cedric Bixler-Zavala blames Scientology for poisoned dog he had to put down yesterday
[SEVEN years ago] Tonight, Leah Remini takes us into the incredible story of Scientology’s Clearwater takeover
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology relies heavily on Russian immigrants — and ‘disconnection’ doesn’t spare them
[NINE years ago] National civil rights museum knows it’s harboring Scientology front group, shrugs it off
[TEN years ago] Here’s your chance to meet the Sea Org at Scientology’s open house next week
[ELEVEN years ago] Las Vegas attorney files 27th suit against Scientology rehab, Michigan attorney files 2nd
[TWELVE years ago] Monique Rathbun seeks sanctions, Scientology tries to kill Miscavige deposition in court today
[THIRTEEN years ago] Scientology Scrambling to Deal with Bad Publicity
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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 3,516 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,020 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,526 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,076 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,066 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,452 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,947 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,251 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,902 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,120 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,674 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,015 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,586 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,502 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,669 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,251 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,510 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,262 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,827 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,142 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,317 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,999 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,336 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,189 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,305 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,667 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,078 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,466 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,350 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,915 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,426 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,686 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,790 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 22, 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
