TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: A Tampa court has ruled it would not allow a new motion in a Scientology labor trafficking case to be filed under seal, and so a huge volume of information suddenly became public about the farcical 15-day arbitration that has been going on behind closed doors. We have it all! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Without effective cramming, production is threatened. Good correction is of such importance that the lack of it can slow a production line to a snail’s pace and in some cases stop it all together. With first-rate cramming an organization can correct not only its products but itself as well, resulting in increased org efficiency with greater public demand for its products. The reverse can occur if there is no Cramming Unit or an ineffective Cramming Unit. Those who need correction in order to be able to turn out products of high enough quality to create public demand, do not get corrected and the volume of traffic into the organization soon drops off. The answer to this is simply to establish and keep established an effective Cramming Unit.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1981
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“Under this particular zone in Scientology right now, we have, oddly enough, culminated — and this is hard to believe, because it is such a wildly embracive figure — we have culminated in anything that was desirable in the fields of religion, mysticism, spiritualism, or mental sciences. Anything desirable in those particular fields have been discovered and culminated in the field of Scientology right now. That’s why I say it’s rather hard to believe, but you look at it, that’s true. So we do have valuable subject materials. Now, that job is complete. And so, number one of these, course management, as far as we’re concerned, on a Scientology course, that is complete. We’re even throwing away material now which would have been enough to have made a complete science and revolutionized middle Europe, you know, two hundred years ago.” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 10, 1959
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“WOG WORLD: If you were puzzled about my ‘now in the WOG world’ jokes in yesterdays OOD — that was the way certain people were 3rd partying us. Making a horrible false impression between us and elsewhere. ‘Now in the Wog world — ” Or how great the beach is compared to the ship. At least we’re trying to get it to survive and that’s more than you can say for the ‘Wog World’.” — The Commodore, April 10, 1969
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“So this is what’s really going on in regards to the virus event. To fully understand it you need to understand that a cult basically runs planet Earth. Top evil dudes are in it. They are in communication with what you could call the dark side of the force, or the devil basically. Or evil gods is exactly what they are. These evil gods direct them telepathically (put ideas in their heads). These ideas involve encouraging them to turn Earth into some type of futuristic electronic 1984 sci fi movie. So right now we are being changed as a society into a new world that is a police state electronic 1984. To change the world into this new world it requires them to do fake pandemics. Otherwise without these events it would take way, way longer. So they create fake pandemics and fake school shootings in order to have excuses to bring in new changes…As L Ron Hubbard said ‘doing something is better than doing nothing.’ Therefore we fight, we resist, and we do not go into any lockdowns. Are you going to let this cult (called Illuminati, by the way) abuse the economy?”
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2000: Mark Bunker had a hearing this week in a criminal case based on his arrest out side the Chicago org by off-duty police officers. “I appeared before the judge for another pre-trial hearing over the charges leveled at me for pointing a camera at Scientology. Once again in attendance was Elliot Abelson and this time Sylvia Stanard was along from Washington D.C. I knew she would be there since I had dinner with the Zizic’s the night before and they told me she had come in to settle the Zizic’s claims and was pushing hard to make this happen fast. When we first heard from the Zizics, they were trying to get $20,000 back for courses they prepaid but never used. The cult stalled them for two years before the Zizics made a call to the LMT. From the time of their contact with the Trust, the Zizics were suddenly being offered that money back if they signed a waiver. Now, with my arrest and the possibility of sending me away for 10 – 25 years, the church is pushing even harder to settle with the Zizics, my only witnesses. Now the church is willing to give back all the money they defrauded from the Zizics. In this waiver they have to agree to shut up and not assist anyone with any litigation against Scientology whether as a plaintiff or as a defendant. The prosecutor was outraged by my appearing in Stamford at the Leo J. Ryan Conference and demanded once again that bail be raised and that I be restricted in my travel but the judge denied that motion allowing me to travel freely for my work. The prosecutor also said that they intend to treat this as a hate crime. If I truly hated Scientologists why would I give a warm smile and a wave to Sylvia when she entered the courtroom? The Zizics have assured me that they will be there when needed to testify on my behalf and I know they will. They are terrific people and it has been a pleasure getting to know them and their kids.”
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“I wear shorts and combat boots to the beach. Who am I kidding, I never go to the beach even though I live right near it. It’s full of gangbangers, junkies, alkies and crackheads.”
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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] Scientology’s appeal in the Danny Masterson civil suit is cynical — and likely to fail
[TWO years ago] Leah Remini lawsuit will get a new judge after David Miscavige challenge
[THREE years ago] Former Scientology private eye wants to haul us into court in rape lawsuit
[FOUR years ago] Mark Bunker reminds us that there are actually Scientology physicians out there
[FIVE years ago] Recent Scientology defector: ‘I did the Purif with SNL’s Chloe Fineman’
[SIX years ago] Eleventh Circuit will hear oral arguments in key Scientology ‘religious arbitration’ case
[SEVEN years ago] LEAKED: Scientology’s secret playbook for world domination!
[EIGHT years ago] Before Scientology was a ‘church,’ L. Ron Hubbard said religion controlled people with lies
[NINE years ago] Why Scientology’s Erika Christensen can play a Christian convert on the big screen
[TEN years ago] Spider-Man goes drug-free for Scientology, and more in our weekly social media review!
[ELEVEN years ago] L. Ron Hubbard’s Navy record: Chris Owen critiques the ‘Business Insider’ story
[TWELVE years ago] Is a Scientology front group among those fighting a European effort against ‘sects’?
[THIRTEEN years ago] Brit Writer’s 27 Years in Scientology is Suddenly News in France
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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 3,594 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,098 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,604 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,154 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,144 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,530 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,025 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,329 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,980 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,198 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,752 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,093 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,664 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,580 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,747 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,333 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,588 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,340 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,905 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,220 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,395 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,077 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,414 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,267 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,383 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,745 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,156 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,544 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,428 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,992 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,504 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,764 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,868 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 10, 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
