TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Two US senators are pressing for answers about how the DOJ killed an investigation into how clemency was granted to a fraudster who happens to be a Scientology donor. ALSO: Mark Bunker is breaking ground in Clearwater! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The cells, as staunch conservatives, idiotically believe, it seems, that anything which was painful will always be dangerous, and they inhibit not only a repetition of the action in the exterior world of now but they inhibit a re-experiencing of a painful action in the interior world of then. Actually the analytical mind, by accurate computation and recall and with far, far more accuracy, contains a mechanism which inhibits repeating an action once painful. It computes even faster than the reactive mind reacts, once the analytical mind has concluded, for instance, that putting a hand on the stove gets the hand burned. It is as if Man has evolved a highly competent captain in the analytical mind but the crew, uneducated and silly, still will not trust him, even though he is fantastically trustworthy and far more able to prevent disaster and gather benefits for the crew than the crew could. Anything the crew, as we might consider the cells, think should be enforced is enforced only through the computers and switchboards of the analytical mind. Thus came about the entire misconception that the personality was built up of neuroses.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“All sorts of disastrous things will occur If you become an expert Dianetic auditor. Then we’re all in trouble because we will start curing everything, you know, and knocking out psychosis and neurosis and doing all those poor doctors out of their jobs. And you don’t want to do any doctors out of their jobs. But I say this in all sincerity, this leads you in to the fact that you can heal, and that is not your profession. You’re trying to clear people, and these processes will heal people, even badly run. They’ll cure migraine headaches and arthritis and lumbosis and medicosis and all kinds of wild illnesses. But it doesn’t necessarily follow that it’s uniform. In other words, you don’t get one for one for one, you see, for the excellent reason that the whole reactive mind is the reason for very severe illnesses. It’s the whole mind. And you can key out parts of it and make somebody quite well, you see. You can key out some very specific illness like that and have it go away but don’t be too surprised if it comes back. So therefore, ‘cure’ is not well used. It’s ill-advised as a word.” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 21, 1966
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“WWIII: The 18 July statement of Russia that it would back Arabs against Israel after an apparent squeeze play on Nasser is the first whiff of World War III. Yesterday’s news items of Soviet Rocket tests north of Hawaii is a confirming item. The Soviet has the US will to fight very knocked out internally in the US and is now following up to pressure the Middle East and the Pacific as a strategic action. They have of course misgauged the US reaction and a belligerent response wrongly done can tip over the cold war into a hot one. This is mentioned because it becomes a factor in our operations to be alert, preserve reserves, and beef up UK and EU.” — The Commodore, July 21, 1970
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“He is part LRH-Tech genius in some ways but he has also a lot of Justin Craig the Gangbanger, Ex-Con, and thug still in him. I can grant beingness to all of that, we are all works in progress, and he admits he has not regained all of the wisdom or charisma or writing ability that LRH had. He may be the same being, he may not, but his universe and his personality is not at all the same.”
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1996: Tony Bosnakoudis posted an announcement that Greece has ordered the closing of the Scientology mission in Athens. “The 61-page Inference Report is the product of an investigation that started on October 1995. On October 10, 1995 almost 4,200 citizens signed and submitted a Memorandum to the Prefecture asking for the shutting down of KEFE [the Scientology mission]. After of what was expressed above, the Committee has the opinion, that the Association deviated from its founding purposes, as stated in its 13-10-1983 Statutes for the following, in summary, reasons: “1. It exercises economic and trade activity, although it is non-profit. 2. It appears with religious characteristics although this is not provided for in its Statutes, with possibly for-profit intention or for enforcement of its presence. 3. It exercises financial, psychological and spiritual exploitation of its members. “The Committee, after the above and of personal estimation and having, in parallel, in mind that the theory, which the Association is supporting, is being received negatively in Greece, as well as in the international domain, according to the exposed data, suggests its dissolution.”
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“He’s found the right balance between non-sequitur sesquipedalian punster and heartfelt commenting.”
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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] Leah Remini: Leaked Scientology policies direct lawyers in religious warfare
[TWO years ago] Scientology says construction has begun on its next Ideal Org — in Puerto Rico!
[THREE years ago] Valerie Haney: Here’s why the press should be asking Tom Cruise about Shelly Miscavige
[FOUR years ago] While the planet melts: What Scientology predicted about climate change
[FIVE years ago] US Supreme Court: Valerie Haney fires back at Scientology about its ‘religious ritual’
[SIX years ago] ‘We’ve talked to the FBI’ Leah Remini says in first podcast, calling for Scientology raid
[SEVEN years ago] Evidence that Scientology is adopting an anti-vaxx strategy, and with political aspirations
[EIGHT years ago] From Sands Hall’s excellent ‘Flunk. Start.’ — the paradox of ‘Keeping Scientology Working’
[NINE years ago] As Leah Remini’s second season approaches, more Scientology survivors are opening up
[TEN years ago] Scientology goes shopping for a new top cop in L.A., and a new video from Chris Shelton!
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology’s speechwriter, the word of God, and a Hubbard bio that will never see the light of day
[TWELVE years ago] Surviving Scientology podcast: Former treasury employee Mat Pesch spills the beans
[THIRTEEN years ago] Neil Gaiman’s Nephew Fights for Scientology Marriage Rights in the UK
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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 3,696 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,200 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,706 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,256 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,632 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,127 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,433 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,082 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,300 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,854 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,195 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,766 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,682 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,849 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,435 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,694 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,442 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,011 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,322 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,497 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,179 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,516 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,369 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,485 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,847 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,646 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,530 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,103 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,606 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,866 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,970 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 21, 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
