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 what we think is a pretty telling video that suggests just how difficult it’s getting to drag Scientology members to their latest fleecing. ALSO: Pictures from the Ramones extravaganza are in, and there was a bonus Scientologist celeb in attendance! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Most of the changes necessary in a child’s environment will be along the line of removing him from the restimulative effect of allies. The insidious way in which allies can completely undermine the health and sanity of a child without even being aware of what they are doing is hard to imagine unless you have examined it for yourself. In one instance an auditor visited a girl in a hospital. When he arrived he found that the grandmother had arrived previously, and that the girl had developed a fever. A little questioning established the fact that grandmother and the fever had arrived together. Straight line memory contacted an illness at nine years of age during which grandmother had re-established herself as an ally and insisted that she would be around any time the little girl was sick. When this lock was blown, the fever went down immediately and vanished completely in a few hours.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“Where does that leave psychology?…This is the way the wheel is going to turn. And the wheel has already begun its slow inexorable spin. They are about to become a more radical element of Scientology. And we’re about to become the conservatives and they’re about to become the revolutionaries. They’re the Johnny-come-latelys, the cowboys in the black hat. And we’re the old homesteaders, been there a long time. And they’ll give us all the propaganda we want to drive this point home, because it will outrage them to such a degree that every time they pick it up or hear it they will go into a complete scream. They will help us. In every university they will help us. They’ll explain to all of their classes, ‘Hubbard is crazy because he says actually Scientology is a very broad subject that psychology is just a part of,’ Ha-ha-ha! None of the students are laughing. Students can understand a radical offshoot, or a Johnny-come-lately type of an approach that says all men are animals.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 1, 1964
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“According to a long newspaper article John F. Kennedy picked up a body in Germany five minutes after he was killed in Texas. Spotting and naming the people of his family and office and mentioning personal habits and actions, this is John F. Kennedy all right, now 7 years old is now the son of Johan Schuler of Munich and has the name of Johan Schuler. The parents are worried about his ability to lead a future normal life. An interesting point is not that he picked up a new body but that Germany is now alert to ‘reincarnation.’” — The Commodore, September 1, 1971
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“Scientology is NOT dead. It is alive and well, much to the chagrin of squirrels and SPs. The only thing that can kill Scientology is reasonableness and allowing SPs and squirrels to dilute and suppress the philosophy and technology. The way forward is to pour the coals on the purpose of Scientology and validate THAT, not the antithesis.”
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1996: Zenon Panoussis was raided by the RTC for posting the NOTS materials to a.r.s. The raid occurred while he was away from his home. In a series of posts, he described the events. “When I returned home this afternoon, I found my apartment broken into. The hard disks were missing from my computer, as well as some diskettes and one copy of the printed OTs. On my bed-pillow was a message from the bailiff that he had executed a decision by the primary court of Stockholm. I am (sometimes) a prudent nature. Foreseeing the raid, I have not used my computer for the storage or production or distribution of any material to which the RTC claims copyright. I count therefore on having my hard disks back within a week. Foreseeing the raid I have also spread the files in question to a large number of untraceable acquaintances, and instructed these to spread them to their acquaintances in case I was raided. This further spreading is taking place right now, with the result that the RTC will NEVER be able to cut me off from the material in question. Foreseeing the raid I have also stored the printed OTs elsewhere than in my apartment (one single copy was taken from my apartment, and one was missed and left back). Their distribution continues as usual, or rather MORE INTENSELY. Today I learned from the bailiff that the scienos’ Swedish lawyer, two American scienos by the names of Warren McShane and William Heart, as well as a scieno computer technician were allowed by the bailiff to search my home. This is not only irregular, but highly illegal in this country. In the total mess that my apartment is (and was already before the raid), I have had no possibility to check what might be missing. No time either. The bailiff had also planned to let the scienos search my hard disks today. But after hearing that I would be present, the scienos didn’t show up at the bailiff’s office for a meeting at 9 am. They later called and made a new appointment for 10 am. Shortly before 10 they phoned and postponed it for 12 noon. Three people from the bailiff’s office and me waited from 12 to 1.10 pm in vain. The scienos didn’t show up and didn’t even bother to phone. At the end the bailiff phoned them and arranged to arrange a new meeting tomorrow (or rather this morning Friday). I use SecureDrive. I made a rough calculation that it will take some 9.5*10e80 years to open it by massive force attack, give or take a few zeros. I said last night that I had something on the doing. It was the printing of the whole bulk of the material, OTs and NOTs. In the morning I made a copy of the 224-page printout and went with both to court. I filed one in as evidence proving that my postings, as shown in the print, are not identical nor even show any similarity to the stripe-covered documents that the CoS claim copyrights to. The instant I filed the thing it became public. By pure coincidence I found that some papers had arrived from the CoS. I asked to see them and was initially refused, but that is a legal impossibility. I got them. 1. that I should be called to testify as to the whereabouts of the files and printed materials I once had, as well as the names of the people that I may have taken the assistance of to intensify my distribution of ‘The Material’; 2. that I should be obliged, again through the bailiff, to hand in every document that was covered by Wednesday’s decision; 3. that the above decisions, seen the extreme danger of serious damage to the RTC that lies in the slightest of delays, be taken without providing me the previous opportunity to answer; 4. that the ‘fine’ set earlier should be set to a much higher amount; 5. that the so called ‘Material’, the OTs and NOTs be covered by secrecy in view of their confidential nature (the term ‘trade secret’ was elaborately avoided). A quote: ‘The RTC receives, directly and indirectly, a great economical benefit from The Material.’ I sat in court frenetically writing statements by hand in the corridor. They were kind enough to find a law book for me. I handed them in at 2 pm and ruling was pronounced at 4.30 pm. Well? Sorry. Motion 1 denied. Motion 2 denied. Motion 3 denied. Motion 4 denied. MOTION 5 DENIED. I have two objectives. One is giving the CoS a very good lesson for their general brutality towards scienos and non-scienos alike; today they got another portion of this lesson. My other objective is to defend the net from the censorship it would suffer if measures for breach of law or good taste were to be taken against ISPs, as the CoS always has wanted, instead of against users, which is the only reasonable way. Even on that front this was a good day.”
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“It’s too bad Russell Crowe didn’t become a full-time Scientologist. He would have been the ultimate batshit crazy Scieno. He would have made Cruise look like Mr. Rogers.”
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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] 20 YEARS: Scientology leader David Miscavige made his wife Shelly vanish
[TWO years ago] Scientology encounters rough waters in northern seas
[THREE years ago] Los Angeles gets its premiere of the Scientology documentary ‘Brothers Broken’
[FOUR years ago] After 9-year appeal, Scientology wins tax exemption in the Netherlands
[FIVE years ago] Hot new progress reports from Scientology’s massive world takeover!
[SIX years ago] Leah Remini podcast: Scientology leader’s Fair Game campaign against his own father
[SEVEN years ago] Another capital to get a ‘national’ Scientology center. Can you feel the excitement?
[EIGHT years ago] A peek inside Janis Gillham Grady’s second volume as ‘Commodore’s Messenger’
[NINE years ago] DRONE FLYOVER: Scientology’s failed underground vault project in Wyoming
[TEN years ago] Marty Rathbun defends Scientology leader David Miscavige as he trashes tell-all memoir ‘Ruthless’
[ELEVEN years ago] Louis Theroux film — ‘My Scientology Movie’ — to premiere October 14 at the London Film Festival
[TWELVE years ago] Signs of chaos emerge for Scientology’s drug rehab legal defense
[THIRTEEN years ago] Scientology Leader David Miscavige Files Declaration in Texas Lawsuit
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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 3,738 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,242 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,748 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,298 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,674 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,169 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,475 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,124 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,342 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,896 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,237 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,808 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,724 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,891 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,477 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,736 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,484 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,053 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,364 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,539 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,221 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,558 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,411 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,527 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,889 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,688 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,572 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,147 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,648 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,908 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 16,012 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 1, 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, 1995-2025 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
