TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The Times of London revealed that a reporter spent months at Scientology’s Edinburgh ‘org’ in an undercover investigation, documenting that children as young as 13 are being recruited to become poorly paid workers. We have a reaction from Alex Barnes-Ross. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Benzedrine often helps a case run. Benzedrine can be administered at the rate of 5 mg per day given at the beginning of each six hour session with the first dose of B1. If administration of Benzedrine is begun, however, it must be maintained throughout the whole of the intensive process. Skipping a day, it has been noted conditionally, sometimes inhibits the release of anaten. Which is to say that when Benzedrine is administered on Monday, on Tuesday, when none is administered, the case appears to be a little more difficult to run in that engrams do not as readily release and, if Benzedrine is still omitted, Wednesday may discover the engrams to be much more resistive. While this is based on a short series, there is enough evidence to warrant this caution. This is particularly true when glutamic acid is being given the preclear.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“Public must like to be fooled. They’re always paying con men of some kind or another. There must be some real value in having hope shot up to the moon in the stock market because those birds are very often paid off heavily. You could reevaluate the society on the basis of what I’ve given you. Yes, you could say, ‘Well, the society makes mistakes in this direction. Yes, the society is lied to.’ Well, I don’t think the society makes mistakes in this direction. That’s a new thought, isn’t it?” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 13, 1964
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“SHERIFF SPENCE: Mitch Spence came back with a wanted poster published by 100 Substantial Citizens of Las Vegas, Mar 24, 1881. If you were there then, run it out fast!” — The Commodore, August 13, 1970
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“We get it — there’s no need to repeat your opinion over and over again about ‘Skype auditing is squirrel’ — we have noted your opinion, everyone else has as well, you can seriously stop being critical now and just do your best at whatever it is you do. No need to put others down repeatedly.”
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1998: An editorial from Frankfurter Neue Presse: “Yesterday in Frankfurt, several thousand persons demonstrated for ‘religious freedom.’ They were adherents of the Scientology church, the organization whose dangerous influence, as sect commissioners warn, has already begun to extend into politics, associations and businesses. Brainwashing, psychological terrorism, defamation, spying on citizens and commercial exploitation are trademarks of the fanatic salvation ideology of the psycho-sect. It mostly appears wearing silent soled shoes. Yesterday it marched boldly under the protective cover of the martyr of the Old Opera house in order to demand the right to ‘religious freedom’ for itself. Thousands of people have moved to Frankfurt involuntarily – people who left their country because of persecution for their beliefs. They left goods and possessions behind, and have suffered in body and spirit. To them, the Scientology demonstration is a cynical insult.”
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“I shook Jim Jones’ hand in the free eats line at Glide Memorial (he was serving) and I also met a man named Fred Lewis who was a friend of my dad’s. Fred lost 28 family members at Jonestown.”
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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] We have the new 75th anniversary ‘Dianetics’ — and it contains surprises!
[TWO years ago] Scientology operatives and attorneys trying to end a medical industry
[THREE years ago] Leah Remini’s new judge looks like an improvement — now watch Scientology squawk
[FOUR years ago] PODCAST: She did Scientology’s dirty work, and then made historic amends for it
[FIVE years ago] Tom Cruise’s Scientology superpowers, No. 11: Levitating an ashtray
[SIX years ago] The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 23: The apologist academics
[SEVEN years ago] Powerful testimonies about child abuse in Scientology keep coming to light
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology is very worried about 75-year-old Efrem Logreira and his allegations
[NINE years ago] The island nation that is proving to be a refuge for the Church of Scientology
[TEN years ago] Scientology’s fiery ‘Guardian’ before she hooked up with Ron, and other gems from our readers
[ELEVEN years ago] With a trial looming in 6-year forced-abortion lawsuit, Scientology cries ‘but we’re a religion!’
[TWELVE years ago] Denise Brennan, 1952-2014: A former insider who exposed Scientology’s corporate shell game
[THIRTEEN years ago] In Scientology, When the Prices Kick Up, What Do You Get for the Money?
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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 3,719 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,223 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,729 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,279 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,655 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,150 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,456 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,105 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,323 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,877 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,218 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,789 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,705 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,872 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,458 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,717 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,465 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,034 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,345 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,520 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,202 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,539 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,392 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,508 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,870 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,669 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,553 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,128 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,629 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,889 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,993 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 13, 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
