TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The Tampa Bay Times had a raucous piece about Scientology in Clearwater, this time about some sniping going on between local politicians there. We asked Mark Bunker, who his running again to be on the city council, to help us make sense of what’s going on down there. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The original goal was to provide expedition commanders and doctors with a therapy tool which would increase the efficiency of personnel and reduce incidence of personnel failure. Dianetics, after eleven years of research and testing, bit off a trifle more than it had bargained for. There had been no intention to go holistic and solve the ills of mankind. That it began to cure psychosomatic illnesses such as arthritis, migraine, ulcers, coronary, asthma, frostbite, bursitis, allergies, etc., etc., that it did quick things about mental derangement on the institutional level and began to replace that strange barbarism, the prefrontal lobotomy, was entirely outside the initial scheme of research. That it would now sail off on a new course to chase down the cause of cancer and cure it was not on the chart. If it does these things, as it appears to be doing, it is in the medical and psychiatric province. No such intentions existed when the Terra Incognita of the mind was explored for its answers. It was intended as a tool for the expedition commander and doctor who are faced with choosing personnel and maintaining that personnel in good health. It is hoped that to these it will be of good value. If it is not, then despite acclaim, it will in some measure have failed.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“In Dianetics, if you don’t think you could produce ‘therapies’ which would produce convulsions, break people out in rashes, make them walk on the ceiling and have their ears rot off, you are foolish. You definitely could. You are working here with the basic tools; you are working with what is wrong. And when you are working with what is really wrong with the human psyche, you can of course just specialize in making it more wrong. For instance, you can take a preclear down the time track and turn on a fever that won’t turn off for two or three days. That is spectacular! You can actually send him down the time track and get him into a fever engram and take his temperature or see that his skin is very hot to the touch, and he will have a fever.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 28, 1951
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“THE ENEMY: Nelson Rockefeller finances and pushes forward the Totalitarian idea of Population Control by Psychiatry and his foundations try to shove us around. In the news he and his family interests are under heavy attack in South America. Rhodesia’s anti-Ron government just gets in deeper and deeper. I wrote Smith a Constitution permitting black representation while maintaining white interests that Britain and the Rhodesian white both would have bought. The govt answer was refusal to extend my visa. That the people of Rhodesia remained on our side is attested by three orgs there now. That Smith is on the side of psychiatry is attested by a new big psychiatric clinic next door to the jail. The enemy is having a very hard time. He is going counter to a world where comm is pushing freedom into being. We are going with the flood tide of world opinion. The enemy is floundering against it. We only have to expand and endure to win.” — The Commodore, June 28, 1969
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“We all are just being happy slaves without even noticing. I hear Scientologists say ‘In my next lifetime I am going to…’ They actually want a next lifetime with all package included: being born again, not being able to talk or walk for a very long time, having to be taken care of, studying all over again what you already studied, possibly (if you are Pre-OT) getting back in Scientology when you are already an adult and doing some of the services all over again till you cognite you are a past-life Scientologist and even so requiring sometimes long hours of auditing to get your memory back, etc. I know some have been fortunate to discover it fast and even being able to pick up a Scientologist family, but that has not been the norm. Scientology is supposed to end the long cycle of death and birth, not to promote it. Will someone please explain to me where is the freedom in that?”
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2001: The Wall Street Journal reported that the FBI expanded its investigation into Scientologist Reed Slatkin to include another Scientologist who may be involved in the Ponzi scheme. “In a widening probe into the money-management activities of EarthLink Inc. co-founder Reed Slatkin, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said it searched the home of Ronald Rakow, a neighbor of Mr. Slatkin. Federal agents spent eight hours Monday in the Santa Barbara, Calif., home of Mr. Rakow, a onetime road manager of the Grateful Dead who presented himself to some investors as a business colleague of Mr. Slatkin. Among the items sought were business and financial records for at least 10 entities operated by Mr. Slatkin or Mr. Rakow ‘for the purported purpose of investing money for others since 1986 using Slatkin investor funds.'”
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“Two eggs over easy, hash browns, and either two Italian sausage or four bangers and dark rye toast. Thanks. Oh, and a double tequila sunrise in a pint glass.”
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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] SCIENTOLOGY BLINKS AGAIN: Tries to withdraw before embarrassing ‘no’ vote
[TWO years ago] Scientology may deny it exists, but here’s a recent example of the ‘drop the body assist’
[THREE years ago] Jon Atack takes issue with new theory about Charles Manson that ignores Scientology
[FOUR years ago] Odd coincidence: For now, Paul Haggis and Danny Masterson both have trial dates of Oct 11
[FIVE years ago] Ron Miscavige, Scientology whistleblower and father of the church leader, 1936-2021
[SIX years ago] Scientology will see you now! Orgs are reopening in safe and not so safe places
[SEVEN years ago] Your brain on Scientology: ‘I am the hurricane’
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology rock ‘n’ roller goes back to his days with L. Ron Hubbard at sea
[NINE years ago] Federal judge tells Scientology to cool its jets, says arbitration is ‘imminent’
[TEN years ago] How Google is getting gamed in the fight both for and against the Church of Scientology
[ELEVEN years ago] Project Normandy, 2015: Paulette Cooper has landed in Clearwater — Scientology’s ‘Mecca’
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology’s secret plan to take over the world — here it is!
[THIRTEEN years ago] Blogging Scientology’s Bible: Vance, We’ve Reached the Finish Line!
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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 3,673 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,177 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,683 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,233 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,609 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,104 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,410 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,059 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,277 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,831 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,172 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,743 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,659 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,826 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,412 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,671 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,419 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,988 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,299 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,474 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,156 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,493 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,346 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,462 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,824 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,623 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,507 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,080 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,583 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,843 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,947 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 28, 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
