TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: PREMIERE: 40 years ago today, Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard left this planet. One of his final caretakers was Steve Pfauth (1945-2016). For the first time anywhere we have the full video interview Pfauth gave to Lawrence Wright as he was reporting his 2013 book Going Clear. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“Drugs, of course, do not only regress a person. They do other things. And amongst these is a communication dulling. This is best observed when drugs are seen to reduce pain. This is simple a communication shut off. Drugs can also temporarily restimulate (before they ruin them) body glands and produce momentary feelings of well being. Part of this is probably a communication shut off from the bank. Drugs can also speed up the burning of reserves of vitamins; alcohol probably burns up rapidly all reserves of Vitamin B1; other drugs also burn up all available niacin and C. This speeded burn up can also bring about a temporary feeling of well being. But when the reserves are gone, the delusions called delirium tremens (D.T.s) and withdrawal symptoms are nightmares indeed. But this again is simply the bank caving in on someone and he is now parked back on the track, not only with the nightmare but with the incidents in the past which caused them.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1980
——————–
“A psychiatrist tells you that people aren’t really insane, because insane people could snap out of it if they wanted to, and this, therefore, is their reason for punishing people who are insane. See, their logic just goes haywire halfway through. They almost have an answer and then they miss it. Almost touch it, miss it. Once in a blue moon some psychotic will — well, this is not even a technique — but some psychotic will suddenly get sane on this statement made to him: ‘You don’t have to be insane, you know.’ You know, he all of a sudden gets sane. It’s quite amusing. Much more often, psychotics turn sane on this one: ‘Come up to present time, please.’ They do and they say, ‘Hello!’ They’re not insane anymore; just pull them out of an engram.” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 24, 1957
——————–
“LOY AND CANDY: These two were doing all right until they came to Flag at which time their parents anti-Scn attitude keyed in and they became as cases ‘Troublesome Sources.’ They have been sent back at Flag expense to handle their parents and report to AOLA and complete their retrain at which time their Class VIII will be restored.” — The Commodore, January 24, 1970
——————–
“I spent 40 years in Scientology. Only 9 months ago did I begin to understand who I was really. So, one would have to, without difficulty, be able to step in and out of theta/mind. The construct recedes so it’s different from exteriorization. There’s no written technology to do it so one would simply have to intend if one is interested. Yet, one does not have to be at effect: In your soul cause/effect is no longer applicable. A soul, little by little can be strengthened and theta/mind does not disappear. It remains with you until physical death.”
——————–
2001: Mike Krotz reported that the body which washed up on a St. Petersburg beach belonged to a former Scientologist. “I have it on very good authority that this was the son of two area Scientologists. He was kicked out of the house some years ago, as he would not follow the teachings adhered to by his parents. They ‘disconnected’ from his ‘thetan infested meat body,’ and refused to have anything to do with him.” From the St. Petersburg Times on January 21st: “The body was found about 5:20 p.m. on Redington Shores beach near 18200 Gulf Blvd. and authorities are trying to determine who it was. The body may have been in the water more than a week. It was a white man with no identification.”
——————–
“If you believe that the Church of Scientology is a criminal organization, that makes David Miscavige the most successful crime boss in the world.”
——————–
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.
——————–
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?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] An Apostate in London: Alex talks strategy about Scientology with an MP
[TWO years ago] Leah Remini applauds an MP’s call for investigation of Scientology in the UK
[THREE years ago] Who takes over Scientology after Dave? Surprising answers from our experts
[FOUR years ago] L. Ron Hubbard’s galactic adventure: 36 years since the Scientology founder left the planet
[FIVE years ago] AUDIO: Tommy Davis, as Scientology spokesman, secretly recorded discussing ‘disconnection’
[SIX years ago] Scientology files anti-SLAPP, says stalking and smearing Valerie Haney is free speech
[SEVEN years ago] Thirty-three years later, Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard is still surfing the galaxy
[EIGHT years ago] The Battle of Portland: How Scientology turned a nightmare court verdict into a major victory
[NINE years ago] Another Leah, inspired by her namesake, comes forward with a harrowing Scientology escape
[TEN years ago] On the 30th anniversary of L. Ron Hubbard’s galaxial soul ejection, an obit by an old friend
[ELEVEN years ago] First time in full: 1997 interview of Barbara Klowden, L. Ron Hubbard’s PR agent and lover
[TWELVE years ago] Eric Idle and Kirstie Alley discuss Scientology!
[THIRTEEN years ago] L. Ron Hubbard: Still Surfing the Galaxy in 2013
——————–
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 3,518 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,022 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,528 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,078 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,068 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,454 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,949 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,253 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,904 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,122 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,676 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,017 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,588 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,504 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,671 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,253 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,512 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,264 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,829 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,144 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,319 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,001 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,338 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,191 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,307 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,669 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,080 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,468 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,352 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,917 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,428 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,688 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,792 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on January 24, 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)
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates.
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
