TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Scientology doesn’t tell you these things about its founder, so we happily fill in that role: In February, we marked the 75th anniversary of L. Ron Hubbard’s bizarre kidnapping of his 2nd wife, Sara Northrup. Two months later, it was Sara’s turn to exact some revenge. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Glibness is often trained into students by the current educational methods as students are taught to read aloud without understanding what they are reading. Understanding is actually considered to be something separate from reading. Therefore the Word Clearer must see that the student understands that he should be
comprehending the materials as he reads them. And if a student starts reading a section without comprehension (goes blank, robotic) or if any other manifestations of misunderstoods appear, then the Word Clearer should have the student go back to the last point in the materials when he was doing well and reading with comprehension. The student would then come forward from there and the misunderstood word or symbol should be found and cleared.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1981
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“Here we have this fellow now and he recognizes this principle and he’s on the destroy end of the curve, you see. He recognizes that a nothingness should exist where that body is. But he doesn’t know why a nothingness should exist — he doesn’t know anything about communication or duplication — he just knows that the best thing to have where that body is, is nothingness. So he goes and blows his brains out. And if the society insists he has too many responsibilities to go blow his brains out, why, then subterfugenously he lowers himself under the wheels of a taxi cab or steps on a third rail or lands himself, and some people haven’t quite nerve enough to make the good clean job of it, so they keep making themselves sick. And that’s psychosomatic illness. That’s all there is to psychosomatic illness, it’s a covert effort on the part of the thetan to make nothing where the body is. But it is an effort which is balked by the society to such a degree that he knows he can’t quite get away with it. So he still goes on with this faint impulse which is just make the body sick, don’t reduce it to zero.” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 23, 1954
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“OTL DK has lost several important mail packets from the 24 March run. We find that OTL had just changed Supercargoes. The new one Connie (Campleman) Stevens was logging her first mail. The DK Post Office or the WW post office or Connie has lost several packets. This flap was not reported by Wayne Alkire to Flag and was not given proper attention by Susan Pomeroy. We now, by phone, have the packet numbers still lost and Aides must make them up again for the next courier. This of course calls for a severe reshuffle of lines and personnel. We must be very accurate on mail slips, relays and posting. A fantastice scramble can occur and the work of a lot of executives can be messed up or destroyed. Comm Evs are being convened on S. Pomeroy, W. Alkire, and C. (Campleman) Stevens. Mail routing will be changed.” — The Commodore, April 23, 1970
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“1976. I’m in Scientology. My great aunt dies. I am at the funeral and no one is in the chapel yet. I walk up to the casket and say ‘Get a Scientology body.’ Guess what I discover this morning? She did. She’s been hanging around for quite some time. We now agree she’s done with influencing my life and on to her own future.”
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1998: The St. Petersburg Times reported that the Clearwater City Manager, Mike Roberto has had recent meetings with David Miscavige. “[They had] A four-hour meeting Monday in which the two men discussed the church’s downtown expansion plans and the recent flare-ups that led to tensions between the city and Scientology. Monday’s meeting took place at Scientology’s Clearwater Building, 500 Cleveland St. The previous meeting took place the first week of April at the Fort Harrison Hotel, the church’s landmark retreat. According to Roberto, he and Miscavige discussed: The church’s planned 300,000-square-foot office and counseling building, which would be one of the larger office buildings in Pinellas County. Some of the history of Scientology in Clearwater – from the church’s controversial arrival in 1975 to the hostility that flared up in December when church officials demanded an investigation into the city Police Department, threatened legal action and orchestrated a protest march around police headquarters by an estimated 3,000 Scientologists. Details about Scientology’s teachings and organizational structure. Roberto, who became city manager in June, said he knew little about the church. He said the meeting was an occasion ‘to get to know them more.’ He added: ‘I think it was important for them to explain and articulate what some of their concerns were. . . . There has to be a resolution somewhere and it has to come from both sides.’ Roberto said he told Miscavige it was ‘completely unacceptable’ for Scientologists ‘to be out there protesting against the city of Clearwater’ in December. As for the church’s demands for an investigation into the Police Department, Roberto said he told Miscavige: ‘Until someone produces some piece of information … of us doing something illegal, I have nothing to go on.’ He said Miscavige made the point that no Scientologist had ever been arrested in Clearwater despite two decades of investigative effort by the police. According to Roberto, Miscavige did not discuss the case of Lisa McPherson, the 36-year-old Scientologist who died in 1995 after spending 17 days at the Fort Harrison. He said he learned in the meeting with Miscavige that the Fort Harrison Hotel, after years of being partly tax-exempt because of the church’s non-profit status, will be 100 percent taxable after the new building opens. That’s because offices in the hotel now used for church counseling will be moved to the new building.”
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“What got me here was a lifelong interest in the weird and macabre, combined with a sister who joined the cult in 1980. In 2008 I heard about a video on YouTube that featured Tom Cruise taking about Scientology. I started following the comments by the anons and Scilons, and I realized I really didn’t know as much about Scientology as I thought I did, so I got busy.”
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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] New records show Scientology still hogging US ‘religious’ visas
[TWO years ago] Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s ill-fated 1932 pirate cruise, in news clippings
[THREE years ago] Scientology issues pics of LRH Birthday event, when David Miscavige was dodging service
[FOUR years ago] How Scientology turns you into an unthinking soldier, defending the indefensible
[FIVE years ago] We still get asked about Scientology mouthpiece Tommy Davis, so here’s your update!
[SIX years ago] Philly lawyers suing Danny Masterson don’t want Scientology to have their home addresses
[SEVEN years ago] Brad Pitt’s Scientology adventure: The sauna, the auditing, the… lizard?
[EIGHT years ago] It’s only April, but we already have a leading contender for Scientology mother of the year!
[NINE years ago] Scientology loves to gladhand Florida politicians, even though it usually has little effect
[TEN years ago] Why Scientology’s inability to pay its tax bill in Montreal is not a sign that it’s struggling
[ELEVEN years ago] See ‘Going Clear’ star Hana Whitfield describe L. Ron Hubbard in a leaked 1997 interview
[TWELVE years ago] NARCONON EXPOSED: Scientology’s flagship drug rehab facility is struggling, records show
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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 3,607 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,111 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,617 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,167 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,157 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,543 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,038 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,342 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,993 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,211 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,765 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,106 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,677 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,593 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,760 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,346 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,605 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,353 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,922 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,233 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,408 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,090 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,427 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,280 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,396 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,758 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,172 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,557 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,441 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,005 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,517 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,777 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,881 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 23, 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
