TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The debate about Scientology in the case that put Danny Masterson in prison is really heating up — even Masterson has decided to weigh in. And yet we don’t know if it will have any effect on his chances of getting a new trial. ALSO: Your Proprietor talks to a skeptical robot? [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“It was discovered that the human mind has not been too well credited for its actual ability. Rather than a weak and capricious organ, it was found to be inherently capable of amazing strength and stamina and that one of its primary purposes was to be right and always right. The normal mind can be restored to the optimum mind rather easily, but that is again beside the point. The focus of infection of mental and psychosomatic ills was discovered in a hidden but relatively accessible place. During moments when the conscious mind (Dianetically, the analytical mind) is suspended in operation—by injury, anaesthesia, illness such as delirium—there is a more fundamental level still in operation, still recording. Anything said to a man when he is unconscious from pain or shock is registered in its entirety. It then operates, on the return of consciousness, as a posthypnotic suggestion, with the additional menace of holding in the body the pain of the incident.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“If the child has suffered a great deal of restimulation such as a recent death on the case, and you know that the emotional content of the prenatal bank is very heavy, you could try to get that death out. But you are liable to find yourself back in the prenatal area, into material that the child can’t handle. The best thing to do is just keep a child from getting restimulated. Limit therapy on a child to picking up little odds and ends. Make them happy, give it to them when you think they need it, stay as late in the case as possible, and above all don’t get the case stirred up to a point where it will swamp the child with anything you suspect may be there. Any prenatal bank is full of infamy. It is extremely embarrassing to try to run some little girl back into the coitus chain who doesn’t know what on earth is going on. She only knows that she is uncomfortable. The words and actions are a complete mystery to her. She is flabbergasted. She will get it off by syllables.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 14, 1950
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“We will be here 3 or 4 days. There will be Liberty. The port is reported full of refugees who try to stow away so be careful not to give them a chance aboard as we would have to bring them back. The ship is beginning to shape up. The ‘new’ recruits are getting to be old hands, things are ironing out well. The bookstore should stock up on small gifts, sandals etc. Now we’ve got water save it. Long time between here and next drink. Enjoy your liberty.” — The Commodore, June 14, 1969
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“A KR from you is a validation per ‘Signs of Success’ PL. They aren’t KRs to the field. KRs were never intended to be broadly published. What you do is natter in the guise of a Scientology concept, and nothing more. You have incredible misunderstood on what KRs are, what they are for, and ethics itself. You’re no ethics officer. You’re a lonely old man with far too much time on his hands who wants to feel powerful by attempts at making other people feel small under threat of defamation. We know WHO you ARE and WHAT you are doing.”
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2001: Scientology celebrity John Travolta appeared on the cable TV interview show Larry King Live. Some excerpts: “KING: You’re able to take something negative. You pass by this newsstand and see something about you that’s a bold-faced lie, or something and look beyond it. TRAVOLTA: To me there, it’s like a, like a – nipping dogs at your ankles, or something. It’s not, it’s not to be taken too seriously. I’ve never taken any of that very seriously. I take bigger issues seriously. I think what one of the biggest misunderstood concepts is that, you know, Scientology is non-denominational. You can be any religion and be a Scientologist – Jewish, Catholic, Christian. KING: But is it a religion? TRAVOLTA: It is. But it’s a religion on technical concepts, you know. It addresses you spiritually, and it leaves God as a – up for your religion, you know. You as a Christian, or you as a Jewish person would interpret what you wanted from that aspect of your religion. KING: Then how did it get all bum-rapped? TRAVOLTA: Well, that’s probably a long story, and a story, and it could have happened back in 1950, when ‘Dianetics’ was first written, and I think there was an attack on the book, because it really attempted to help in a mental health way. KING: And knocked psychiatry. TRAVOLTA: Yes. And I think that could have been the initial, initial issue, you know. KING: What led to FBI investigations? German authorities trying to stamp it out? TRAVOLTA: Well, you know, as you know, you’re in a profession that, it’s interpretive how press will kind of release ideas on things. And, you know, I look at a – the members that I know, the members, the person I am. It has only done fantastic things for my life. And everyone I know, you know. We’re very strong on trying to rehabilitate people on drugs. We have a 90, 95 percent success rate in taking people off of drugs. We’re immersed in so many positive aspects of society, you know, as a group. So, I don’t know. The group’s motto, ‘A world without war, insanity or criminality.’ And, a person needs to want to be helped, and I have a very specific way of helping a person off drugs. So, you have to want that. There’s vitamin programs and detoxification, sweat programs that a person goes on, and Scientology calls it a purification program. But it’s not – you can even do it outside the church. You don’t have to do it there. You can do it with different organizations. You know, there’s a whole wonderful organization called Narconon, that is just, it just helps. Life is overwhelming. Life is not easy. Life is tough. And you need something that really works and helps you actually, not promises to help you, then fail. And that’s why I’ve always loved Scientology, because it offers help, and it works.”
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“My dad grew up dirt poor during the Depression and he would eat a jar of pig’s knuckles in one sitting as well as all kinds of other ungodly shit.”
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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 request for draconian law avoided, accord with protesters reached
[TWO years ago] Scientology to clear planet with killer new marketing campaign: ‘Are you lonesome?’
[THREE years ago] Scientology fundraising is reaching epic levels of awesomeness, you doubters
[FOUR years ago] Scientology’s new hype video is off the charts, kids. Prepare to put the pedal to the metal!
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s heyday: When you got golden tickets for past-life therapy
[SIX years ago] Hanging out with Scientologists going door-to-door in ‘Volunteer Minister’ hazmat suits
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology trots out new propaganda ploy: Pretending to support journalists
[EIGHT years ago] DOX: Quebec church owes other Scientology orgs heaps, pays its workers peanuts
[NINE years ago] Marty Rathbun tries to rewrite the record on Scientology spying. But we have the dox.
[TEN years ago] Scientology claims L. Ron Hubbard chose David Miscavige to succeed him, proving he didn’t
[ELEVEN years ago] Good morning, New York! Paulette Cooper is dishing on Scientology in the Big Apple today
[TWELVE years ago] L. Ron Hubbard’s mesmerizing lore, and tales of Scientology’s secretive Int Base
[THIRTEEN years ago] The Fair-Gaming of ESMB’s Michelle “Emma” Sterling
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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 3,659 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,163 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,669 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,219 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,595 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,090 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,394 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,045 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,263 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,817 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,158 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,729 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,645 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,812 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,398 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,657 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,405 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,974 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,285 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,460 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,142 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,479 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,332 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,448 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,810 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,609 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,493 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,057 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,569 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,829 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,933 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 14, 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
