TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Last night Clearwater’s city council took its final vote and, with 3 members voting yes, Scientology will get what it wants as a downtown avenue is ‘vacated’ and closed off from the public right-of-way. Mark Bunker was there to speak against it, and we asked for his thoughts. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“It is a matter of clinical proof that the persistency, ambition, drive, will power and personal force are in no degree dependent upon these comanomes. The comanome can only inhibit the natural drives. The value of this unconscious experience is valuable in an animal. It is a distinct liability to Man who has outgrown his animal environment. The reactive mind, so long as it limits its activity to withdrawing, instinctively, a hand from a hot stove, is doing good service. With a vocabulary in it, it becomes deadly to the organism. Those familiar with General Semantics will understand how the reactive mind computes when it is stated that it ‘computes’ in identities. The word ‘horse’ in the reactive mind may mean a headache, a broken leg, and a scream. Such a comanome, one containing these things, would be computed that a broken leg equals a scream, a scream a broken leg, a horse equals a scream, etc., etc. If the comanome contained fright, then all these things are fright. The value of such a mental computation is entirely negative, inhibits the perfect calculations of which the analytical mind is capable and reduces the ability of the individual to be rational about, as noted, horses. Comanomes also contain complimentary material which can bring about a manic state and which, again, is of slight use in computations.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“I think you could probably get a cat to talk with the reach-and-withdraw band of processes. I mean it. I mean it. I think you could get a cat to talk. But how would you go about processing a cat, you see? Well, the same way you tend to process children. Sloppily, hunt-and-punch, no regular sessions, not treating it with the dignity that auditing demands. Don’t you see? You know, a lot of Scientologists’ kids are going to be practically unprocessable in a few more years, if people keep hunting-and-punching processing on them, you know. Grabbing them off as they pass by, and running an assist, don’t you see, and never flattening the auditing command and so forth. I’m surprised, every once in a while, one of my kids will yelp when I say I’m going to give them an assist, you know. They yelp! They’re usually very pleased, but once in a while I will propose something like this, and I’ll get a protest.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 19, 1963
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“To the members of the FB, FSO and FAO: Thank you all — each and every one — for your good wishes on my Birthday. I’m thrilled with the ‘Mad Money for Cassettes,’ and very anxious to see my Mystery Gift. Much love,” — Mary Sue, June 19, 1971
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“The attempt to Black PR those who adhere to KSW, is just that — Black PR, promulgated by those who didn’t and don’t keep Scientology working, and whose results with the materials sure do show that up. Yep, I’m a ‘fundamentalist’ allrighty. Paid my dues on Flag’s Internships, and through thousands of hours of application to earn that epithet.”
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1999: The Savannah Morning News reported that a kennel master has been fired after he took a bomb sniffing dog to work on an unauthorized job for Scientology in Clearwater. “The kennel master for Chatham County’s K-9 unit was fired after he took a bomb-sniffing dog to Florida to work a private job for his own personal gain, according to the county sheriff. Lt. Tony Derryberry also built pipe bombs — in violation of federal law — to help train Chatham’s K-9 units, said Sheriff Al St Lawrence. Derryberry took a dog trained to find explosives from its handler on May 6 and went with it to Clearwater, Fla., to work a private job —
inspecting a site for a conference of the Church of Scientology, St Lawrence said Tuesday. He spent two days in Florida with the specially trained dog — an investment for the county of about $8,500 — without department approval, the sheriff said.”
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“I’ve seen Oz promote homeopathy, naturopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture, and herbal voodoo on his program. He’s Dr Woo-Woo.”
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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, oral arguments scheduled for June 25. 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. Now serving time in 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 June 19.
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. Oral arguments hearing set for July 23.
— 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 upheld on appeal. Scientology expected to file additional petitions before case can return to Kalra’s court.
— 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] Mark Bunker: Clearwater council argues about Florida AG siding with Scientology
[TWO years ago] Scientology meltdown: L. Ron Hubbard 2.0 in crisis after indictments publicized
[THREE years ago] Why doesn’t Scientology want you to see these OTs and their success stories?
[FOUR years ago] When Father’s Day reminds you that Scientology has ripped apart your family
[FIVE years ago] Finally, truth in Scientology advertising: What an ‘Ideal USA’ would really look like
[SIX years ago] Records show that Danny Masterson is a woeful Scientologist — would he turn on the church?
[SEVEN years ago] Ignore the apologists: Yes, L. Ron Hubbard lied about having an engineering degree
[EIGHT years ago] Stacy Francis goes to Washington: Are we witnessing another Scientology political op?
[NINE years ago] Clearwater bar owner under surveillance has a surprise for Scientology: He’s expanding
[TEN years ago] Scientology goes big with Barnes & Noble and with the Euro 2016 football tournament
[ELEVEN years ago] LEAK: ‘Crappy stories’ about Scientology are driving more people to the church than ever!
[TWELVE years ago] Paul Haggis, Chill EB, and more Scientology fun in an all-video post!
[THIRTEEN years ago] LEAK: Scientology’s Script For Softening Up A Crowd
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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 3,664 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,168 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,674 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,224 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,600 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,095 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,401 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,050 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,268 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,822 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,163 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,734 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,650 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,817 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,403 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,662 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,410 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,979 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,290 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,465 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,147 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,484 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,337 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,453 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,815 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,614 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,498 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,062 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,574 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,834 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,938 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 19, 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
