TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: In the past we’ve kept our eyes on Scientology figures who try to insert themselves into local politics. So when a reader notified us about a character in Austin, we figured it was a similar story. But the more we looked into it, the more confused we became. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The basic, unaberrated analytical mind — and every person apparently has such a stratum of rationality — has in all cases so far processed by the testing group of
Dianetics, two hundred seventy-nine, demonstrated a remarkable co-operation. ‘The mind knows how the mind works.’ There have been cases so thoroughly swamped that
this co-operative flicker was barely discernible and could be put to rout by engrams, but even these, as soon as some of the reactive burden was deintensified, began to manifest greater and greater co-operation in processing.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“Evolution: there’s no such thing. Bodies don’t evolve. They deteriorate, but they don’t evolve. You can trace all kinds of reasons how they evolve, and why they evolve, and you can figure it all out, but the truth of the matter is when you get horses on a planet, somebody came along and mocked up some horses! Now, they also mocked up these horses with the capability of growing hair or not growing hair. You’ve got adjustment factors, but not evolution factors. So you confuse the adjustment factors and prove the whole theory of evolution. And now you know man came from mud, and you can write a book like Pavlov and get the whole world poisoned. You see how this one goes. All of this is based on what? It’s based on errors in time.” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 18, 1963
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“Promotion and Sales and the Tech Divs have to get together. For instance not the tiniest whisper of what we do with Dn and Lower Grades in the SO ever appears in any promotion. And Org staffs in SO or Scn Orgs haven’t a clue what is meant by the ‘FEBC’ Courses they pay for for their execs. On the broad front of the world there isn’t even a ghost of an idea of what we produce in Scn. That’s because PR hasn’t really found out either. This is a real breakdown! We’re working like mad to repair it. We’re also working to get out an ARC Brk and Letter Reg program to heal up ARC Brks caused by non-delivery and cash demands. And we’re working to get Div VIs to get in new people.” — The Commodore, July 18, 1971
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“Ever since I can recall I’ve been aware of some sort of interchange between myself and other beings, that was non-verbal, and could span distances in the absence of vias (other than the particles, and distance needed to have the comm in the first place). I didn’t really know what this was, and more or less figured it was my own thoughts and mock ups. I’ve since become much more aware and cause over these lines of communication, and gotten better at spotting whose stuff is whose, and even managed to ease it up for them, when I can, so whatever problem or trouble they seemed to create in terms of my universe, I now surely don’t add to, or mis-own, and even am more able to alleviate it, allowing them to play some other game, since most times, I had no interest in what it was that was going on anyway. Without the truths recovered as a Scientologist, I think I would have rattled around with this phenomena for ages, not really knowing what it was, or how to assume KRC for it all.”
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2000: The Lisa McPherson Trust issued a press release this week on the visit of Ursula Caberta to Clearwater for a press conference. “The Lisa McPherson Trust will host a reception and press conference for Ursula Caberta, head of the Task Force on Scientology of the Hamburg, Germany, government, at 10 a.m. on July 25, at the LMT offices located at 33 N. Ft. Harrison Ave. in Clearwater. Mrs. Caberta will discuss recent revelations that German Scientologist Antje Victore submitted fraudulent documents to a Tampa, Florida, judge to obtain political asylum in the United States. Mrs. Caberta will highlight the activities of her task force and the harassment to which she has been subjected at the hands of the Scientology organization in Germany. Mrs. Caberta will also discuss the case of a German former Scientologist who has brought suit against Scientology in Clearwater, Berlin and Copenhagen for lost wages and imprisonment. The suit claims he was held prisoner for two weeks in a six-foot square, windowless room in Clearwater, and that he was subjected to ‘psychological torture.’ A live
audio stream will be available on the LMT website, http://www.lisatrust.net, during the conference.”
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“I use Hubbardese all the time IRL because it’s fun.”
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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] Bob and Me: What it was like to spy on Scientology’s number one enemy
[TWO years ago] Scientology-friendly, gun-toting Nevada politician indicted in charity scam
[THREE years ago] The OT 7s turned away at the gates: A Scientology blunder that reveals so much
[FOUR years ago] Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard and the Georgia Guidestones: Here’s the truth
[FIVE years ago] This is your brain on Scientology: Watch woman express euphoria after brutal interrogation
[SIX years ago] Paulette Cooper tells us she’s been interviewed for Leah Remini’s new Scientology podcast
[SEVEN years ago] Miss New York organization changes course, ditches Scientology front group
[EIGHT years ago] Is this case of Scientology draining a senior of his savings the one police are looking for?
[NINE years ago] Our man in Ireland ponders Scientology’s big plans for the Emerald Isle
[TEN years ago] Joey Chait’s sentencing memo: Abused in Scientology’s Sea Org and in fear of wealthy dad
[TWELVE years ago] Ryan Hamilton files his 18th lawsuit against Scientology’s embattled drug rehab network
[THIRTEEN years ago] LEAH REMINI’S SISTER NICOLE: How We Got Into Scientology, And How Leah Got Out
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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 3,693 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,197 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,703 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,253 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,629 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,124 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,430 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,079 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,297 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,851 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,192 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,763 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,679 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,846 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,432 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,691 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,439 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,008 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,319 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,494 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,176 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,513 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,366 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,482 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,844 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,643 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,527 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,100 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,603 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,863 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,967 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 18, 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
