TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Sara Northrup may have been the most interesting person L. Ron Hubbard ever met. And 75 years ago today, she gratefully got rid of him forever. But before ending their marriage, Ron had one last trick, for a Kansas court, and set a pattern we see even today in Scientology. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“For a mathematician and navigator to become involved in the complexities of the mental frontiers is not particularly strange; to produce something like results from his explorations into the further realms of the unknown definitely is. There is no reason here to become expansive on the subject of Dianetics. The backbone of the science can be found where it belongs, in the textbook and in professional publications on the mind and body. But in that Dianetics was evolved because of observations in exploration for the purpose of bettering exploration results and safeguarding the success of expeditions, it would be strange, indeed, to make no mention of it in its proper generative field.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1952
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“The United States is having an awful happy time right now pouring billions into foreign aid so these dirty, filthy, fly-ridden grass huts in Balooga-uga-uga-stan can all be torn down and they can put in nice seven-bedroom ranch houses with hot and cold running politicians throughout. And they’re just having a ball. And nobody is more surprised or will be more surprised than the United States government at the end of a period of time to find out that the exact proportion of ‘hate the United States government’ and ‘love the United States government’ exists as before. They might even have gone over toward ‘hate it’ before, to the degree that they actually enforced people to live in these seven-bedroom ranch houses, see. Because you talk to a boy in Blooga-uga-uga-uga-stan and he’s liable to tell you something on this order: ‘Ah, nice house, yeah, nice house. Yeah, reeds, reeds, nice reeds, side of a river, nice reeds. Wife there to raise some yams and so forth, and nice reeds, very thin walls.’ So you say, ‘What do you mean, very thin walls?’ He’s kept crooning over this idea of these thin reeds, you know. And it doesn’t sound like this guy’s very smart. And he looks at you like you’re crazy.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 12, 1963
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“Your bonus and wherewithal to work depends on the arrival and departure of students. Flag expense is up to three and a half times to five times what it was last year, mostly in the FAO. Two recent weeks were only around three thousand and six thousand. Such an average would be just about a tenth of the total cost. The income of Flag must be such that 20 percent of the gross covers bonuses. If it does not, then there are no bonuses.” — The Commodore, June 12, 1971
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“I believe that DM cannot be alone doing this. We have already some indications that at least the US government is endorsing Scientology through the IRS agreement and more. There are no major attacks on Scientology, Miscavige, no matter what the whistle blowers have said. It is evident that the Global Enslavers are set to make their version of Scientology the next-religion-to-be. And indeed, we see Christianity going down and Muslims of course who are way backwards and all other old religions failing. But Scientology is on the news almost daily and it is a modern, a new religion. So, they want it. But they want it their way. Not with the policy and tech LRH left behind. But as a money making and mind washing machine.”
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1999: “Realpeach” posted a summary of recent revenge actions at her home. She is a regular protester at the San Francisco org. “I got a home picket by two Scientologists today, so I thought I’d report on it, and the last couple of incidents I hadn’t posted before. May 27, 1999: Two incidents. I got home at 7:20 pm to find two people picketing my house with the standard ‘Religious Bigot’ flyers attached to picket signs. Both were older people, who certainly ought to have known better, one man, one woman. Someone else came by later and left one of those rock-filled, rolled up flyers on the walkway to my house. May 30, 1999: It was the man named Craig who has picketed me before. But when I opened the door ready to get a picture, no one was there. June 6, 1999: Two picketers this time, the woman with the dark curly hair, and Craig. It has been my policy to do my best to not engage in discussion with the Scientologist Home Picket/Harassment Brigade. I do not wish to reward what I consider to be outrageous stalking. My neighbors however, have no such policy. In the strongest terms they advised the Scientologists to leave the neighborhood. Which, after a few minutes, the two Scientologists did. My neighbors also said that their kids don’t like to walk down the sidewalk when the Scientologists are there.”
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“As long as you’re not a boo-hoo or a grim weeper, you’re all right in my book.”
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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] Waiting for Xenu: What it’s like when your Scientology Ideal Org never comes
[TWO years ago] Why does Scientology get to hold up the Danny Masterson lawsuit in its entirety?
[THREE years ago] What’s up, Dave? Scientology still looks no closer to opening Austin and Chicago
[FOUR years ago] Spend enough on Scientology, and you too can bend the universe to your will!
[FIVE years ago] What’s going on at the compound where Scientology is keeping Shelly Miscavige?
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s new strategy for ex-members ignoring its letters: Sending out invoices
[EIGHT years ago] How to get fired from a Scientology job the easy way — a real-world example
[NINE years ago] Scientology and kids: L. Ron Hubbard talks about small children as ancient beings
[TEN years ago] Scientology’s ‘Battlefield Earth’ campaign, featuring Frank Frazetta and a crashed saucer
[ELEVEN years ago] Jon Atack: Scientology’s early history is something most members don’t actually know
[TWELVE years ago] More proof of Kerri Kasem’s Scientology involvement, and Laura Prepon lies like a rug
[THIRTEEN years ago] Scientology Doesn’t Want You to See Documents in Laura DeCrescenzo’s Forced-Abortion Lawsuit
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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 3,657 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,161 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,667 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,217 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,593 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,088 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,392 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,043 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,261 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,815 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,156 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,727 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,643 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,810 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,396 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,655 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,403 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,972 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,283 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,458 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,140 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,477 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,330 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,446 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,808 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,607 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,491 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,055 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,567 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,827 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,931 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 12, 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
