TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: One of the reasons we keep an eye on the trophies Scientology leader David Miscavige hands out to his wealthy supporters is the reaction we get from readers who tell us they recognize some of these big donors to the church. But we sure weren’t expecting this one! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“I told an auditor to look over a past session of known date on a pc and find what was missed in that session. Something must have been missed as the pc’s tone arm action collapsed in that session and ever afterwards was nil. So this auditor looked for a ‘missed withhold from the auditor in that session.’ The ordered repair was a complete dud. Why? This auditor did not know that anything could be missed except a withhold of the hidden overt type. He didn’t know there could be an inadvertent withhold wherein the pc thinks he is withholding because the auditor didn’t hear or acknowledge. This auditor didn’t know that an item on a list could be missed and tie up TA. But if he did know these things he didn’t know them well enough to do them. A second more skilled auditor took over and bang! The missed item on the list was quickly found. The more skilled auditor simply asked ‘In that session what was missed?’ and promptly got it. The former auditor had taken a simple order ‘Find what was missed in that session’ and turned into something else: ‘What withhold was missed in that session?’ His skill did not include applying a simple direct order as auditing looked very complex to him as he had so much trouble with doing it.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1981
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“You can pick up a rock and handle it quite safely. It won’t disappear on you for the excellent reason that it has so many fundamentals, so many basics, so many premises from which it sprang. There are so many alter-isnesses which have proceeded along the line, that it’s not really likely to as-is in your hands. But if you start plowing around about the original rock or the source of all rocks, or you start questioning the source of all rocks, if you did it expertly enough I’m afraid you would feel the rock tremble, because if you did it completely successfully, it’s liable to be gone.” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 7, 1957
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“The ship looks good and Captain Robertson is to be congratulated on it and the officers and crew are thanked for their care and attention. I am glad to be back aboard. The only trouble is that ashore the dogs bark all night and now, without this I probably won’t be able to sleep. However, Janet Guilford says we can organize an All Hands Barking Stations.” — The Commodore, March 7, 1970
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“LRH tried to get an enormous amount done in a short life time and it is somewhat of a miracle that he got as much done as he did. He realized that just shooting people up the Bridge to OT was not enough and OTs can be keyed in again (after all, we were originally) and entheta is so prevalent on this planet in so many levels it is very difficult for even a small group to stay exterior let alone an individual. This is why the focus became ‘Clearing the planet’ and getting more and more people educated and through the lower levels in an attempt to raise the tone level of the planet overall to an environment where stable OTs could be made. The more we retreat into our little close knit community the smaller we will get and we will end up back where we started, newly gain experience notwithstanding. We need to expand, get more people ON the bridge, find out what people so desperately need most of and expand our base.”
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2001: Zenon Panoussis reported that he lost the his appeal of his copyrigh violation case in Swedish court this week. “The district court’s ruling is confirmed and I am ordered to pay yet another SEK 400,000 (USD 40,000) for RTC’s legal costs in the appeal. I am appealing this ruling right now. The supreme court might or might not hear the appeal.” From the Associated Press: “A Swedish appeals court upheld on Friday a previous verdict banning a man from distributing a copyrighted Church of Scientology training manual. The manual was a ‘sacred text’ and covered by copyright ownership, the court ruled. In September 1998, the Stockholm District Court ruled that Panoussis had violated copyright laws when he published the manual on the Internet. In its ruling, the appeals court said the scientologists had treated the material as confidential such as by requiring members to sign agreements about not revealing the details of the texts. ‘We are very pleased with the ruling. It shows that the justice system works,’ church spokeswoman Tarja Vulto said. The case ‘was about copyright, and that the copyright owners have the right to their own material,’ she added.”
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“Hubbard deciding the right tone level for being mauled by a bear is fabulous.”
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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 March 9.
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, which is now fully briefed. Awaiting the setting of an oral arguments hearing.
— 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. Oral arguments hearing on March 3.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration. 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] An appellate attorney looks at Scientology’s slam on Leah Remini’s lawsuit
[TWO years ago] For an outfit that sells immortality, Scientology really sucks about death
[THREE years ago] Scientology: Trafficking suit has a Waffle House problem. ALSO: Newiga sings in Tokyo!
[FOUR years ago] The new Impact magazine is here, and we get to see Scientology’s biggest donors celebrated!
[FIVE years ago] The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 5: The dirty tricks private eyes
[SIX years ago] Valerie Haney asks judge to reconsider ruling, and has some excellent arguments
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology denied: Eleventh Circuit brushes aside church attempt to stop Garcia appeal
[EIGHT years ago] Is American culture now so hopeless that Scientology’s insanity is no longer notable?
[NINE years ago] Paul Haggis spoils movie night for Scientology, shows what a real humanitarian does
[TEN years ago] There’s a backstory to the recent news of a Scientology TV ad being banned in the UK
[ELEVEN years ago] Jon Atack visits an org — ALSO: The richest Scientologist gets even richer!
[TWELVE years ago] BRAD HALSEY, 1957-2014
[THIRTEEN years ago] Blogging Dianetics, Part 10: Killing the Grizzly
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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 3,560 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,064 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,570 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,120 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,110 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,496 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,991 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,295 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,946 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,164 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,718 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,059 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,630 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,546 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,713 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,295 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,554 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,306 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,871 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,186 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,361 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,043 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,380 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,233 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,349 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,711 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,122 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,510 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,394 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,958 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,470 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,730 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,834 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 7, 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
