TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Things are really heating up in Clearwater over Scientology’s latest takeover attempt, and we’re fortunate that Mark Bunker is keeping an eye on it. He gives us a detailed account of last night’s odd meeting between Scientology’s cutouts and Mayor Bruce Rector. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“On Solo levels you deserve the best auditor you can get: You. Auditor training is highly recommended whether you plan to audit professionally or not. ‘Getting trained,’ as a Solo auditor, does not simply mean to do the Solo courses. Training up to the level of a Class IV/NED auditor who knows his business is the most
positive assurance there is that you will make it to OT. It’s all right for these guys in lower grades to be pcs — that’s fine. But there comes a point as you move up the Grade Chart when your lack of auditing skill starts hitting you in the teeth and you won’t make it to OT at all. You’re walking straight into the tiger’s lair on New OT VII and you’d better be good!” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1982
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“I can take a look at my desk barometer any day of the week and get a better weather forecast than I get over the telephone. I’m being hard on the boys. Every year they get a little bit better. They’re finding the sky too. And then all of a sudden we get into passenger traffic left and right across the Atlantic, and we hear ‘above-the-weather flight,’ ‘radar-spotted weather,’ you see, and so on. They’re still finding clouds. They haven’t found the sky yet, see. Then they shot off a few cosmonauts, who became naught in Russia with great rapidity, and they found a great deal there called ‘the sky.’ And five dead cosmonauts later, the Russians must have decided that they should know something about it. But because they had lots of cosmonauts they probably haven’t bothered. But the point is, they send people up into the Van Allen belt, named after Van Allen. Who the hell heard of him? I don’t know, maybe he was the fellow who invented radiation fallout or something. In other words, they shoot people up into these areas, and they get scorched or something happens or something of that sort, and they’re in the big vagueness of ‘There is a sky.’ They’re still on this thing here, see.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 29, 1963
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“Captain Mary Sue Hubbard has just returned from correcting and bringing off a mission flubbed by three others. She, accompanied by Liz Ausley, did in 3 days what has been hanging fire for nearly 3 weeks. She bulldozed the biggest bank in Spain, bearded the Spanish Security forces and saved us $5500 in fees as well. She got the whole thing handled. MSH is the first SO Missionaire (spring 1967) and on each of the four or five she has run, has achieved consistent Power, having actually saved the day against terrible threats to Scientology in every single instance. We ought to put her under glass. If NATO had her on their payroll they could disband!” — The Commodore, May 29, 1969
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“The problem with the independent field in the US is that they have forgotten the purpose of training and auditing, they are far from being spiritual and it’s tragic there’s no one here to lead. The situation is very serious, as we see the world being taken over by the implanters, they want to drug people, turn them into robots. Every day more and more people won’t be auditable.”
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1999: Mark Bunker distributed leaflets at a Scientology event at Border’s book store in Glendale, California. “This was his first time at a ‘picket’ and I use that term loosely because it certainly was not organized to be any sort of picket. In fact, I just wanted to come and shoot a little footage not knowing what would happen. I had a large batch of Lisa flyers and ‘No Christ’ flyers from Jeff Jacobsen (thanks Jeff) and this gentleman was very pleased to hand them out. We spent about a half an hour in front of the store, answering questions and passing out flyers. While speaking with one woman outside, she informed me that she will
never buy a book from Borders again. That certainly wasn’t my intent in being there but who am I to say where she should shop. The Scientologists made sure that I was not allowed to shoot inside but I put the camera outside the main door and shot there. This did seem to cause some enturbulation inside where the Scientologists had a modest table, seating two, not very far past the main entrance. There were a few copies of Hubbard books and a sign offering free ‘Stress tests’. I understand they also had an e-meter but I did not see it. I occasionally went through the store before shooting and saw an occasional wog seated at the table but there was no throng waiting to hear about the fastest growing religion. After a half hour, I went in to talk to the folks at the table but they were packing up and leaving. The woman from the table came over and told the guy that I was some ‘loony’. That amused me. I told her, ‘So, I’m loony because I know about Xenu blowing us up in volcanoes 75 million years ago when Earth was known as Teegeeack, but Hubbard wasn’t loony for thinking it up?’ No response. There were several other Scientologists there with their cell phones and walkie talkies including…DAN!!! One of the two fellows who picketed my home. I leapt with joy at the sight of my old friend and went over with my hand outstretched but he refused to shake it. I tried to communicate with him but he picked up a book and stuck his nose in it and wouldn’t blink. I told him how much sympathy he had garnered on the net from folks watching him in my revenge picket video but he didn’t budge. I invited him outside to appear on camera but he didn’t seem interested. I finally gave up and went out to get my camera.”
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“I appreciate Shatner for being a survivor and roaring back to be virtually everywhere at once after his wife died and everyone had written him off as a hopeless drunk.”
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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 celebrities finally getting involved with Scientology TV
[TWO years ago] Scientology puts off racketeering charges by appealing ruling in Masterson victims’ lawsuit
[THREE years ago] For Memorial Day: Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s farcical first command
[FOUR years ago] Tom Cruise’s hit movie couldn’t come at a better time for his Scientology best bud
[FIVE years ago] Mike Rinder on the myth of the ‘reactive mind’ and how Scientology still ropes in new people
[SIX years ago] What’s $20,000 between friends? LA Mayor Garcetti presents a Scientology gift to city
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology planning new series of books to rope in children?
[EIGHT years ago] Laura D’s attorneys answer Scientology’s latest delaying tactic with a legal blast of their own
[NINE years ago] She’s back! Leah Remini builds a case for Scientology aggression in tonight’s A&E special
[TEN years ago] It’s a miracle! Scientology put ‘more than 10,000’ people in these 1,000 chairs!
[ELEVEN years ago] 20 questions about Scientology — with answers that get to the center of a dying movement
[TWELVE years ago] Hey, IRS: Stunning photos inside the lavish personal offices of Scientology’s leader
[THIRTEEN years ago] Former Scientology Enforcer Marty Rathbun Examines His Past as the Church’s “Warrior”
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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 3,643 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,147 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,653 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,203 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,193 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,579 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,074 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,378 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,029 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,247 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,801 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,142 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,713 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,629 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,796 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,382 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,641 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,389 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,958 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,269 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,444 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,126 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,463 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,316 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,432 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,794 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,208 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,593 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,477 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,041 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,553 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,813 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,917 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 29, 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
