TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Yesterday we brought you Danny Masterson’s entire 26-page brief about the way Scientology was discussed in his trial, which finishes up his appeal. But was it an effective argument? For some help on that, we turned again to our appellate attorney expert, TX Lawyer. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The world conqueror evidently operates with a perverted dynamic. Dynamic Four, Mankind, consists of a thrust toward the greatest good for Mankind. Mankind must win, according to this dynamic, and actions must be taken to further and better and generally advance the survival chances of Mankind. An engram which dictates strongly, for instance, that everybody but Tugaboo Islanders have crazy conceptions might cause a Tugaboo Islander to try to force Tugaboo Island taboos down the throats of everyone in order to save Mankind. But the world conqueror, with an engram overworking, choking and distorting his Mankind dynamic, may have such a strong group dynamic that his actions take no account of the slaughter he effects. He not only must force taboos upon the rest of the world, he can only ‘save’ his group by the most extraordinary means.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“Do you realize the value of auditing is not measurable in dollars and cents to a person who is being audited properly? It is just not measurable. A hundred thousand dollars an hour would be something he would talk about. Got the idea? He would talk about. He might not be able to pay it but he could consider it. Now, that’s quite interesting. He could consider it, without gaping and jumping out the window and so forth.” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 29, 1958
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“The enemy seeks by false reports to blunt our org image and this by depressing stats recoils into Div III making finance hard. It is interesting that the enemy is also depressing world stats in this same way. False alarming reports of conditions are made so that the finance of nations is being injured. The World Bank loans the bulk of its funds to India. It has now pressured India to nationalize its banks. It also forces birth control and unpopular measures on India to cause civil unrest and give the government a bad name with its people. The world bank’s biggest debtors are forced to act in criminal and unpopular ways. False reports are spread to injure credit. We were smart enough never to borrow or subsidize. Thus we are still alive.” — The Commodore, July 29, 1969
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“LRH describes in the Philadelphia Doctorate Course taped lectures, that one can ‘scan’ the time track of a room or a house. LRH scanned the past track and the future track of the room he was doing the lecture at.”
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1997: Keith Henson posted a portion of his argument before Judge Whyte this week. “‘Your Honor, on the trade secret issue, Scientology, through RTC, is abusing trade secret laws and the Federal courts to limit public disclosure of the damages their quack medical ‘procedures’ do to people. Scientology does apply illegal medical treatments to people. If your Honor doubts this I have the ‘treatment’ notes for Lisa McPherson [entered as evidence in another case] right here in my hands. These treatment notes detail restraint, injections, and the administration of chloral hydrate, a DEA Class 4 drug. The result, as detailed in the current issue of Newsweek, was fatal. Over the years Scientology may have caused as many deaths as the Heaven’s Gate cult. Letting RTC withdraw trade secret claims instead of ruling against them will contributed to future deaths.’ Of course, the cult lawyers moved to strike, and Judge Whyte did their bidding.”
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“I want a cheap E-meter so I can sec-check my cats and I can get to the bottom of mysteries like, why do you chew on plastic bags? Why do you eat your own hair? Why do you refuse to help me do the dishes?”
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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] This is going on your permanent record: Why Scientologists fear being written up
[TWO years ago] Tom Cruise gets France’s highest honor despite its Scientology scorn
[THREE years ago] Striking actors: Need non-union work? Scientology has your back!
[FOUR years ago] The spy who never was? L. Ron Hubbard and ‘Maj. Ian Macbean of the British Secret Service’
[FIVE years ago] How insidious is Scientology? Cathy Mullins on how she got sucked back in after escaping
[SIX years ago] Miami chiropractor and Scientology donor Dennis Nobbe charged with COVID relief fraud
[SEVEN years ago] Driving people away (and begging them back) was built into Scientology from the start
[EIGHT years ago] Nancy Cartwright goes home as Scientology ‘Ideal’-izes the world
[NINE years ago] Jon Atack: The biggest thing L. Ron Hubbard got wrong about Buddhism
[TEN years ago] Arlene Cordova, 1933-2016: In her 80s, she took on Scientology and reunited with her daughter
[ELEVEN years ago] How Scientology schools prepare young minds for the rigors of the Sea Org
[TWELVE years ago] Hana Whitfield: What it’s like to be stalked by Scientology
[THIRTEEN years ago] Jim Lynch, Scientology’s Shill, Dies at 59
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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 3,704 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,208 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,714 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,264 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,640 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,135 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,441 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,090 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,308 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,862 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,203 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,774 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,690 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,857 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,443 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,702 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,450 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,019 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,330 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,505 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,187 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,524 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,377 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,493 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,855 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,654 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,538 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,113 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,614 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,874 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,978 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 29, 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
