
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: In 1975, Scientology secretly crept into Clearwater, Florida, and its citizens were not consulted if they wanted to become its ‘spiritual mecca.’ Now, leader David Miscavige wants the city to turn over a street to complete plans for his Vatican City. Here’s his pitch. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Scientology Lower Grades sometimes exteriorize a person but to date, to my knowledge, have never produced a Clear: That was not their purpose. Remember that with Dianetics Book One techniques, I could produce Clears. But it took decades of development of auditor training skills and precise statements of processes to bring it up to where others could. That point has now been with us for some time in developed training technology and New Era Dianetics. We are making Clears today with NED, make no mistake about it. But it should prove even easier to do so once the pc’s own life and environment have been straightened out with all those releases available lower on the new chart.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1981
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“Today I’m going to talk to you severely. Ordinarily I jolly you along, you know, and everybody looks… Well, I hate to be this severe, but you are on the edges of the great adventure. And this separates the sheep from the goats, man. And separates the children from the characters who can do it. And you are adventured upon a period of auditing which requires far more precision, auditor presence and TRs than any auditing we have ever had. There’s certain ways to do this right, and there’s certain ways to do it wrong. The number of ways to do it wrong far exceed the ways to do it right. Any time you have somebody in training, he can always invent some new ways to do it wrong, but it’s very, very funny that he never invents — almost never — some way to do it right. Because the odds are very bad. The truth of the matter is that the auditing which you are embarked upon is in actual fact simpler than you would believe and simpler than you will believe for some time. And the main thing you are doing with it is far too much complication. That’s all. Just the complexities you’re adding into it are defeating you. And you’re taking too much time to accomplish what you’re accomplishing.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 2, 1963
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“The UK and SA inquiry scenes look hopeful if we keep our fingers crossed and the Gdn Office keeps as active as it has been, which we’re sure it will. This is the real power house that’s in action… We now own the 174′ MY Grinnel and as soon as it’s out of dock it will be the US Station Ship. It’s very sleek, has engines only slightly less HP than Apollos. Two strong 2000 HP GMs… Flag is now a happier atmosphere. In the field thanks to the days of raw recruits and Berez and the lies of B. Green in NY we’re looked on as a violent and savage ship. It’s a lie so it will blow away. Doesn’t do any harm anyway.” — The Commodore, May 2, 1970
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“Before, I was part of a very known group of Indies on the Internet. Hard core, highly trained, Tech wise and Admin wise old-timer Scientologists. Very good guys indeed. When I told their leader about Ron and his new tech, she made a point to be ‘honest’ and demonstrate to me that he was a crook, a con man, and that the floor was going to drop under my feet. Wow, frightening, really frightening! Well, I never had so much wins in my 40-year career as a Scientologist.”
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2000: Bob Minton posted details of his financial dealings in Nigeria, which are under attack by Scientology. “‘The Scientology Fashanu Report’ is a worthless piece of crap that even the PRESENT Nigerian Government has no interest in pursuing as it relates to anything to do with the buyback I was involved with. Scientology is feeding this bullshit everywhere, even to Washington but nobody is listening which is why you can read it all on ARS. The total amount of debt purchased for Nigeria by any companies which I or my fellow shareholders was involved with amounted to US Dollars 4,447,524,747 at a cost to Nigeria of US Dollars 1,548,577,891. That means an average price to Nigeria of 34.819 percent. The companies I was involved with made a fraction of one percent commission on the debt we
purchased NOT 30+ percent. Every item in ‘The Fashanu Scientology Report’ is based on the lie that we bought at 10 percent and sold for 40+ percent to Nigeria. The Nigerian Central Bank led by the then Governor Ahmed, Deputy Governor Ismalia Usman (today, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance) and many others like a Mr. Animashawan were the most honest people I have ever dealt with. They were a credit to Nigeria and totally atypical of the African stereotype Scientology and others would have you believe. General Babangida (IBB) who was the Nigerian ruler when we did this business, made a very wise decision to approve the buyback plan we presented to the Central Bank of Nigeria. It saved Nigeria billions of US Dollars and no matter how much the Church of Scientology tries to spin it.”
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“The visual image of Tom the Jumping Jackass is priceless in itself and will stay with me for a very long time.”
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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] As Dianetics nears 75th anniversary, Scientology goes for a ‘boom’
[TWO years ago] Scientology faked David Miscavige appearance at Paris opening: The smoking gun
[THREE years ago] Plaintiffs in Scientology trafficking case ask permission for appeal after getting derailed
[FOUR years ago] A Balance of Nature employee wanted to prove Scientology’s influence, so they sent video
[FIVE years ago] In Scientology, ‘making it go right’ is everything, even if it wrecks lives
[SIX years ago] Georgia anti-psychiatry legislator goes even bigger for Scientology in the pandemic
[SEVEN years ago] What it’s like on the Scientology measles ship right now, according to former crew
[EIGHT years ago] Fifty years later and post-Scientology, 60’s band People! aims for a comeback
[NINE years ago] Renovations for Scientology’s planned Mexico City ‘Advanced Org’ halted by local pols
[TEN years ago] ABC’s ’20/20′ let Scientology trash Ron Miscavige — but here’s what you didn’t get to hear
[ELEVEN years ago] More testimony that Scientology’s celebrities know all about Sea Org deprivations
[TWELVE years ago] SCIENTOLOGY DENIED: Federal judge finds that Garcia fraud lawsuit can continue
[THIRTEEN years ago] Dianetics: Super Colon Blow For Your Mind
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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 3,616 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,120 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,626 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,176 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,166 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,552 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,047 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,351 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,002 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,220 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,774 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,115 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,686 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,602 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,769 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,355 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,614 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,362 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,931 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,242 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,417 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,099 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,436 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,289 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,405 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,767 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,181 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,566 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,450 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,014 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,526 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,786 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,890 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 2, 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







