TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We have a bumper crop of testimonials on completing Operating Thetan levels at what was once the home of Scientology’s founder, L. Ron Hubbard! We think it’s fascinating to read these success stories for what they are leaving out (but that we can reveal). [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“An engram can take over this necessity level mechanism, just as engrams of various sorts can impinge upon any mechanism of the analytical mind. The most sorrowful examples of this sort can be found amongst the world conquerors in which our rather puerile histories specialize. Wading in blood and piling up ‘enemy’ skulls these social liabilities are generally driven by engrams which dictate that they must conquer. Now it happens that their necessity level mechanisms and their abilities to compute and especially to act must be very, very high, far above the average. And something else has entered the equation here.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
——————–
“So you’ve got the other fellow’s universe and you got the physical universe. Now, the other fellow, in his universe, can cause you problems while communicating to you through the physical universe, and the physical universe itself can cause problems, and so we can get a thing called a present time problem that doesn’t have anything to do with a mental image picture. Doesn’t have anything to do with the reactive bank, but it can restimulate the reactive bank and make it harder to solve the present time problem. But a present time problem can actually exist. That’s one of the things that auditors don’t always notice.” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 27, 1965
——————–
“CONGRATULATIONS to Bill Robertson and Nate Jessup on passing the Dianetic written examination 100 percent. Nate is the 3rd Staff student to pass the examination. Nobody on the ship part time course has taken the exam yet. You should quickly complete 3 times through the checksheet before your time expires so that if you miss out on the 100 percent you still have time to restudy and pass the exam within the 8 week period.” — Brian Livingston, July 27, 1969
——————–
“If you love your car but can’t afford to buy the latest model, then buy some stock shares or make time to promote the car and company to others so they will consider buying it, otherwise, one not-so-fine day, you may not find your favorite brands. Please don’t let others do the hardest, most difficult work alone. Freedom and Relief is a team effort. Give. I always have, in one way or another, and I hope you will too. Give to Ron.”
——————–
1995: Helena Kobrin, lawyer in charge of harassment for Scientology, was busy this week sending threatening letters to a.r.s posters for quoting 5 lines from the OT7 document. New recipients this week include Bruce J. Bell, Blind Carlos, Maggie Council, ‘Jesse Garon’, James J. Lippard, Old Salt, Doctorb Science, Tony Sidaway, Tim Skirvin, Keith Spurgeon, Steve, Donna Stuckert, and TarlaStar. Letters were also sent to several Internet Service Providers. Henry posted: “After the threat to me was extended to my sysadmin, I have canceled all messages which contain ‘fair use’ reproduction of the six lines of OT VII which I have quoted.” Andrew Burt, sysadmin of Henry’s site explains his response: “I also explained to her that, if she could supply me with absolute proof that you violated the law, I would revoke your account (per standard Nyx terms). I did explain that the proof needed to be convincing, not just her word against yours. Toward that end, I indicated that a court judgment against you would be an example of such convincing proof.”
——————–
“The regs do all the fluffing in Scientology, but there are no happy endings. It’s all a tease.”
——————–
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.
——————–
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?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] When Scientology tried to convince the LA Times that Tom & Dave were just regular dudes
[TWO years ago] Scientology moving minors across state lines for intense labor: There’s a word for that
[THREE years ago] Charlie Nairn tells us about getting L. Ron Hubbard & Scientology on air in the 1960s
[FOUR years ago] Scientology trafficking case do-over: Both sides reload in light of ‘arbitration’ motions
[FIVE years ago] A Scientology escape saga, which includes serving L. Ron Hubbard a bad meal
[SIX years ago] EXCLUSIVE: The real Tom Cruise — Leah Remini exposes Scientology’s biggest asset
[SEVEN years ago] When your ex is into Scientology, a custody battle can get cosmically worse
[EIGHT years ago] Why did a 26-year-old ‘Clear’ kill herself at Scientology’s spiritual mecca?
[NINE years ago] Derek Bloch on fighting Scientology ‘disconnection’ in an unaired TV series
[TEN years ago] How Scientology split up teen sweethearts who reunited more than 40 years later
[ELEVEN years ago] A new look inside Scientology’s bomb-proof vaults, and a visit to Hubbard’s final rodeo
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: The Nancy Cartwright countdown to godhood edition!
[THIRTEEN years ago] Jon Atack: A Case of Scientology Fair Game Deflected with Disinfecting Sunlight
——————–
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 3,702 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,206 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,712 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,262 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,638 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,133 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,439 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,088 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,306 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,860 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,201 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,772 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,688 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,855 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,441 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,700 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,448 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,017 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,328 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,503 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,185 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,522 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,375 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,491 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,853 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,652 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,536 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,111 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,612 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,872 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,976 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on July 27, 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)
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates.
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
