TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Scientology’s abuses are recorded in decades of court documents, journalistic exposes, and the accounts of former members. But how does the church reassure politicians that it’s all overblown? We have a stunning example of that in a new document obtained by Alex Barnes-Ross! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Considerable travel and examination of the cultures of Man, considerable study in philosophy, occasional encouragement from such men as Will Durant brought me by 1938 into possession of the basic formulas of human behavior. They were rough, those early conclusions. They were crude. And they lacked a technique of application. The basic nature of Man is not bad. It is good. One should realize that as a possibility. The basic nature of Man itself is not at fault. But the basic primitive adventures of Man were violent and savage and, as Freud supposed, it is that imposed brutality which Man must hold in check.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1952
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“Every time you throw a book in the mails, you see, why there was so much effort coming back toward one, and it’s neglected. Similarly, let’s say, the colored gentleman who has a good, high-paid job: sticking his head through a canvas and letting people throw baseballs at him. I think that’s a well-honored profession of one time or another in carnivals and so on. All right. So here he has these baseballs coming in at him all the time. The visible picture, you see, is made of everything, but his attention goes on the incoming baseball. Yeah, but as this baseball is coming in, actually there is a contrary reaction that he pays no attention to, because he’s interested in the baseball. He’s not interested in that contrary reaction. He wishes there were more of it, if anything, you see, to slow that baseball down. And the next thing you know, he will have too many baseballs thrown at him. Now, he’s actually the — it isn’t the injuries of the baseballs or anything; it’s just the fact that he’s built up a ridge in front of his face that consists of not the incoming baseball, but the resistance going back against the baseball. You got the idea? Well, it’s the resistance back against that baseball that sticks there, not the baseballs. So he has too many baseballs thrown at him and all of a sudden gets a horrible feeling of pushing out that way.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 2, 1961
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“Hey, how about completing TRs. One on the course is trying for a world’s record on TR 0. How about reading the HCOB and doing it? There is only one way off the course and that’s through it. 80 percent of one Class Xs pcs are on this course. For sure we want no Execs out there who can’t pass Zero. So….” — The Commodore, June 2, 1971
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“When I’ve surveyed some of the horrendous deeds I’ve done on the whole track, it has occurred to me that no amount of regret would do a thing to make up for those actions. In fact, nothing I could possibly do in PT could compensate for some of the crap I’ve done down the track. And so I concluded that there was no point in dwelling on these things. Best to act in terms of the greatest good now and work it around (with Scientology) so that I’m unlikely to do those things again. Your emotions are within your control, and regret is a place you don’t want to go.”
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1996: Dennis Erlich’s case is proceeding, despite an attempt by Scientology to link it to the Grady Ward case. “Yesterday Judge Whyte issued a slap in the face to the scienos in an order which refused to move back the hearing date or link the Erlich and Grady cases. Whyte’s comments in the order were something like ‘different cases, different people, different issues’. He also said (paraphrased) ‘Mr. Erlich is probably interested in bringing this matter to a speedy conclusion.’ He didn’t sound at all amused. You don’t think after all this time he could actually be concerned about my rights, do you? The hearing on June 10th at 10 am in San Jose Federal Court is on. I am planning on being in attendance to watch the MoFo-ing the scienos get.”
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“In the cosmology of L. Ron Hubbard your children aren’t really ‘your’ children. Instead they are just non-corporeal immortal alien beings who popped into the genetic entity inhabiting the womb of the bigger thetan who proceeds to plop it out. They would have these little thetans signing billion-year contracts with their little footprints if they could.”
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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] EXCLUSIVE: The places Scientology is hiding dying elderly Sea Org workers
[TWO years ago] Remembering those who exposed Scientology, each in their way
[THREE years ago] Here’s the court order demanding Danny Masterson’s attorneys attend leak hearing
[FOUR years ago] Le Monde & Vanity Fair: FBI probes Russian oligarch financing of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’
[FIVE years ago] Scientology hype video celebrating its pandemic response is the bomb
[SIX years ago] Steve Cannane took Scientology’s line, says unrepentant ‘Deep Sleep’ doctor
[SEVEN years ago] Having conquered QR codes, Scientology goes all in on WhatsApp
[EIGHT years ago] Janis Gillham Grady on Scientology jail: ‘LRH had been like a father to me. So much betrayal!’
[NINE years ago] Scientologist’s lawsuit against Jim Carrey over Cat White’s suicide survives dismissal
[TEN years ago] Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s tall tales about himself never get old
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology, six degrees of separation, and Miss Lovely — author Paulette Cooper
[TWELVE years ago] Ryan Hamilton files lawsuit number eleven against Scientology’s drug rehab network
[THIRTEEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: What Did David Miscavige Tell the Troops Last Night?
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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 3,647 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,151 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,657 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,207 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,197 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,583 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,078 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,382 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,033 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,251 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,805 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,146 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,717 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,633 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,800 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,386 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,645 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,393 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,962 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,273 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,448 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,130 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,467 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,320 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,436 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,798 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,212 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,597 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,481 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,045 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,557 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,817 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,921 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 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
