TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Wise Beard Man is back! Mark Bunker sent us his new campaign launch video, and we asked him to describe what he’s up against as he runs again for Clearwater City Council at a time when David Miscavige is trying to turn the town into Scientology’s Vatican. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“KEY-IN: The action of recording a lock on a secondary or engram; the moment an earlier upset or earlier incident has been restimulated. The action of some part of the reactive mind moving in on the person. A Key-in occurs when the environment around the awake but fatigued or distressed individual is similar to some part of the reactive mind. Since the reactive mind operates on the equation A=A=A, the present time environment becomes identified with the contents of a particular portion of the bank and so it activates and exerts its influence on the person.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1981
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“Let’s be some distance from the body, if possible. Some distance from the body and find some places where you are not. Some more places where you are not. Now some things from which you are not exteriorizing. Some things you’re not at this moment getting out of. And now some things that aren’t pulling you into them. And some things you are not getting out of. And now some things you’re not stuck in. Some more things you’re not stuck in. Now some energy masses that aren’t wrapping themselves around you at this moment. All right. Now some energy masses you aren’t wrapping yourself around at this moment. And now some effort you are not at this moment trying to get out of. Some effort you’re not trying to keep from expending at this moment. All right.” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 12, 1954
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“SOURCE TO CAUSE: I’ve heard it said that as ‘source’ I should handle something way outside my general activity. This is a confusion between SOURCE and CAUSE. Whereas I am source of data, overall coordination and planning, You are CAUSE over your area. Results are the effect of your own efforts. When these support general programmes we all win. You should not minimize yourself as CAUSE. It is your greatest ability. Being Blamed sometimes blunts Being Cause. But if one’s total ambition is to be blameless the best situation is to get one’s name on a tombstone. And it’s no fun being dead. Being CAUSE over Matter, Energy, Space, Time, Force, Form, Location and Life is just another way of saying ‘OT’.” — The Commodore, March 12, 1970
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“Our eyes gather perception stereoscopically with very limited sensors that only map three colours out of millions. When people first go exterior they use their BTs to translate their limited perception into something similar to what eyes see. That gets mixed up with lots of facsimiles. Theta perception is very different from what eyes see. Theta beings in a higher state of awareness do not look AT things. They surround and permeate. Light is actually somewhat of a distraction.”
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1999: The Tampa Tribune published an article describing the relationship between Scientology and the city of Clearwater, Florida, and the new Super Power building. “A 10,000-pound hammer drove another 40-foot-long sheet of metal into the ground across the street – the site of a planned 324,000-square-foot Scientology training and counseling center in downtown. The six-story complex will be one of the largest buildings in Pinellas County. Work on the foundation, which began in early February, confirms what some Clearwater residents and downtown merchants consider anathema and others accept without emotion: The church is growing. From a large video screen in the hotel mezzanine, parishioners are guided on a computer-generated tour of the new complex. The center will mirror the hotel’s Mediterranean style, with a 150-foot decorative tower on its west side. Sculptures depicting the fundamentals of Scientology will greet guests as they enter a three-story atrium. City officials and Scientology representatives held meetings last summer and fall after Roberto unveiled a long-term redevelopment strategy for key areas of the city, including downtown. Observers say the church and city are trying to be better neighbors. About a year ago, the church replaced its staff’s blue uniforms with more casual clothing. It also sponsors a variety of community events. Scientology officials also agreed to a city suggestion to move their staff dining facility from a building on downtown’s main drag to the new training complex. Church staffers and parishioners will be able to access the new facility from the hotel and the future auditorium via overhead pedestrian walkways. Glenn Warren, chairman of the Clearwater Downtown Development Board, says merchants hold mixed views about the new church facility despite additional tourists and more property taxes. ‘Many of my friends are dead-set against them,’ says Warren, whose father started the family business downtown in 1930. ‘But damn if I can tell the difference between a Scientologist’s dollar and a Baptist dollar or a Presbyterian’s dollar. And that’s the point. My personal feeling is that anything that large is going to have a positive impact within the community.'”
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“I’m not ‘hating’ on anybody — especially folks I don’t even know — but on the other hand I don’t believe in turning a blind eye in order to maintain a positive front. My sister undoubtedly put her kids in the Sea Org, and for that I could never forgive her.”
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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] Losing Mike Rinder: How Scientology is using it in appeal of Leah Remini’s suit
[TWO years ago] Jane Doe 1: Scientology’s forced arbitration shouldn’t apply in a lawsuit about sex abuse
[THREE years ago] Celebrity Sunday: Jim Meskimen, Terry Jastrow, and… Helena Kobrin?
[FOUR years ago] Scientology wants you to dress up like a pirate before it takes your booty
[FIVE years ago] UCLA’s voice of the Rose Bowl & Pauley Pavilion scores Scientology Super Power!
[SIX years ago] The new Scientology OT 8s are here! Masters of matter, energy, space, and time!
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology TV debuted one year ago, and it’s still unwatchable propaganda
[EIGHT years ago] Tonight, ‘Vanity Fair Confidential’ brings the Shelly Miscavige story to the ID network
[NINE years ago] David Miscavige wants to turn Clearwater into Scientology’s Vatican — but can he?
[TEN years ago] Meet the guy Scientology is relying on to get the ‘disconnection’ billboard stopped
[ELEVEN years ago] DOX: Two early Dianetics supporters, including the E-meter inventor, turn against Hubbard
[TWELVE years ago] Vivian Kubrick posts remarkable photos from the sets of her father’s movies
[THIRTEEN years ago] Scientology Starts Out as Staring Contests
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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 3,565 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,069 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,575 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,125 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,115 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,501 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,996 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,300 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,951 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,169 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,723 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,064 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,635 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,551 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,718 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,300 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,559 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,311 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,876 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,191 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,366 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,048 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,385 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,238 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,354 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,716 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,127 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,515 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,399 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,963 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,475 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,735 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,839 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 12, 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
