TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Alex Barnes-Ross is keeping us up on Scientology’s development plans at its UK headquarters. And now, he’s letting us know just how much David Miscavige’s newt problem is going to cost him! ALSO: Scientology breakdancing, and a genocidal anniversary! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Reverie is the same thing as being wide awake with one’s eyes closed. It is not a special state of being. None at the Foundation now count. The preclear is simply told to close his eyes, the canceller is installed and the preclear is in reverie. Wide awake he could move to any incident he can reach in reverie. Persons who do not go anywhere when told are invariably stuck somewhere on the track although they appear to be in present time. After telling a person to close his eyes, see if he moves on track.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“Science plays a lively tune and they play it with very glossy photographs. They play it with very good advertisements. They play it with great big, imposing universities, huge facades built out of gorgeous marble, imported from South Dubuque. They’ve got themselves a pretty good face, see? Big stuff. People’s cars go whiz-whiz down the streets and the petrol that goes into the engine will make it run at vast expense. They’ve got it up to a point where an engine can actually utilize over a thousandth of the potential power in a gallon of gasoline. They’ve got it fixed up so they can color your health bread by certain breeds of mold, and so they can get appropriation from other breeds of mold called ‘Congress.’ You’ve got yourself quite a game going here. It’s called science, and you yourself are not totally aware of the fact how that cuts your personal throat.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 30, 1964
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“The shark picked up a lot of paper that was thrown over and wants to take the DAC. He’s got a former therapy thing going though. Used to be partners with an electric eel in a psychiatric racket. I told him if we didn’t get some auditors soon I’d discuss his application further. He went off singing an odd song that went ‘Most courteous fish in the ocean, with temper forgiving and mild. Though his record is dark, he’s a Man-eating shark who would eat neither woman or child.’ Good luck to full time DAC on your exams.” — June 30, 1969
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“The fact is we are in a continual danger condition as beings, and we don’t even realize it. Anyone, of course, has the right to procure another body and another lifetime, I can’t call that freedom though, can’t even call it self-determinism. I don’t think that there are that many Scientologists out there who really, I mean really, understand the situation in which we all are in this planet and guess what, it has nothing to do with humans and has nothing to do with reactive minds. It has to do with evils and powers we are not even aware of. It is either explained or hinted at in so many LRH lectures and yet, it seems to escape us every time.”
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1996: The office of cult lawyer Kendrick Moxon issued a press release concerning the recent demise of the Cult Awareness Network. Moxon litigated the Scott case, which led to the award that caused CAN’s insolvency. “The civil rights attorney who filed the motion to dismiss CAN’s attempt to protect its assets in the bankruptcy court, Kendrick Moxon, said ‘CAN’s sole purpose now is to start paying off its victims and the people it has hurt’ referring to the $4.9 million judgment against CAN and three others in the kidnapping of a Seattle area man who belonged to a Pentecostal church. That 1994 civil rights case was brought under the federal statute commonly known as the Ku Klux Klan Act and was the largest civil damages award rendered against CAN or any deprogrammer in U.S. history. CAN tried to avoid paying the punitive and actual damages assessed against it by declaring Chapter 11 bankruptcy late last year. Moxon, who has fought for civil and religious rights for decades, added, ‘CAN was a hate group that promoted religious intolerance, broke up families and incited hatred. It had a long history of criminal acts and kidnapping activities. Religious freedom is a little more free now.'”
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“Scientology is in the same category as Christian Science and the Jehovah’s Witnesses as far as being a ‘spiritual’ practice that has caused the deaths of its adherents in the past through the denial of legitimate medical treatment. These crimes need to be stopped.”
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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] The chilling coda to one of Scientology’s most notorious deaths
[TWO years ago] VIDEO: Scientology is now targeting your patriotic fervor, pilgrim!
[THREE years ago] German government once again proves it has no illusions about Scientology: What’s up, US?
[FOUR years ago] Today: Danny Masterson’s last chance to avoid criminal trial in October?
[FIVE years ago] First, do harm: Scientology’s secret war on mental health
[SIX years ago] That time Laura Prepon helped silence a Danny Masterson victim for Scientology
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology continues to use the United Nations as a prop for its propaganda
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology scam: ‘It hadn’t occurred to me I was getting appalling advice from Church execs’
[NINE years ago] We have the letter Scientologists are receiving from a federal judge!
[TEN years ago] Scientology produces miracles — but you only get to hear about them in one place
[ELEVEN years ago] Paulette Cooper back in Clearwater for the first time since the 1982 Scientology hearings
[TWELVE years ago] That time L. Ron Hubbard was hit by lightning while wearing full armor: It’s science!
[THIRTEEN years ago] Tampa Bay Times Portrays Twin Sister of Scientology Leader as Dope-Smoking Slumlord
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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 3,675 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,179 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,685 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,235 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,611 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,106 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,412 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,061 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,279 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,833 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,174 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,745 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,661 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,828 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,414 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,673 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,421 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,990 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,301 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,476 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,158 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,495 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,348 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,464 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,826 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,625 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,509 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,082 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,585 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,845 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,949 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 30, 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
