TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: One of the standard features of Scientology is the ‘graduation,’ when someone is asked to give a speech about the ‘wins’ they’ve gained after a grueling regimen of auditing or coursework. What does that look like in 2026? Check it out in this leaked video. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Dianetics cannot, at this moment, offer a completed program for the processing of all psychotics, no matter how badly they have been handled. Our work with persons who have had electric shock seems to indicate that most of the damage done to the nervous system by shock can be repaired by the body after dianetic processing. At any rate, a number of electric shocks have been run out as engrams, and the results in restoring sanity to the preclears who have been processed in this way are definitely encouraging. Some work has also been done with persons who have a part of their brain missing, and these persons also respond to dianetic processing, but, of course, the destruction of brain tissue introduces a wild variable, and results are also wildly variable.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“Oh, Scientology. Oh, oh, yes, Scientology, all right. That’s, that’s fine. Well, they’ll make you an Operating Thetan there, and you’ll be nine feet tall, and you’ll be able to beat up on the local government, and you’ll be able to throw your wife in the Pacific Ocean, you won’t have to bother with her anymore. And you’ll just be all-powerful and so forth. Well, it probably wouldn’t be very real to the individual, even if he believed it. I can assure you it’s going to take him several years to make it and by the time he makes it he won’t have any interest in throwing his wife in the local ocean or beating up the local council.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 9, 1965
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“Jerry McLarty went off post to Chief Engineer of Bolivar and is reported by the new chief to have left things in beautiful order — ‘a piece of cake.’ I was thinking maybe we should award this type of action. It is usually the reverse. Joe Blow leaves and the incomer spends the next few weeks just trying to find the comm basket under that mess. So a guy leaving a post in good order and running well with a grooved in relief deserves an inspection and a reward. Any suggestions of how to get such a thing in and what award should be given?” — The Commodore, September 9, 1970
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“Squirrels and unethical people in the Freezone routinely use the ‘hidden data line’ argument to try to goad people of goodwill into giving them materials they will then use to spin people in or to deny their existence in order to falsely parade as an Authorities while being a complete ignoramus.”
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1997: In response to last week’s article in the St. Petersburg Times about Lisa McPherson, Scientology attorney Elliot Abelson wrote a letter to the editor, which was published this week. The letter attempted to cash in on the distrust of tabloid media following Lady Diana’s death in an auto accident. “While many tabloid media are currently undergoing some responsible self-examination, reporter Tom Tobin and the Times continue to exploit the tragic death of Lisa McPherson with relentless and sensational reporting of non-news. Lisa’s many friends and those who knew her and loved her would rather not have the last days of her life exploited and sensationalized by media. Unfortunately, the Times has no such scruples. It is intrusive and unnecessary reporting such as the Times has displayed that is the reason the reputation of the media is currently at a low ebb.”
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“After my dad’s POS father had abandoned him and my grandma in a one-room shack in the Arizona desert, and my dad, grandma, and his two sisters ended up in Northern California, I guess my grandfather ended up being one of the biggest contractors in the Tempe/Phoenix area. When he died he was worth millions and my dad and his two sisters never saw a dime. His new wife was a Mormon and all the money went to her and the cult.”
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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] Scientology submits last-minute application for much more than big tent
[TWO years ago] Mike Rinder: I was in Scientology’s prison with Emily Armstrong’s mom
[THREE years ago] PODCAST: This week’s sentencing and letters drama left us needing some group therapy
[FOUR years ago] Olmedo rules: Read the decision to deny Danny Masterson’s latest trial delay attempt
[FIVE years ago] Let’s help the new Scientology ‘Ideal Org’ in Austin get staffed up!
[SIX years ago] The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 15: Jeffrey Riffer
[EIGHT years ago] By any means necessary: Scientology’s bizarre war against psychiatry
[NINE years ago] Supporting Leah Remini and her show — what’s the risk for viewers who expose Scientology?
[TEN years ago] Scientology’s ‘disconnection’ policy gets sacrificed on the Burning Man altar
[ELEVEN years ago] David Miscavige: Scientology saved the universe from its ‘reverse point’ in 2006
[TWELVE years ago] Longtime Scientologist Jim Jackson remembers Lyman Spurlock, 1945-2014
[THIRTEEN years ago] Leah Remini on The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Fairly Tight-Lipped About Scientology
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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 3,746 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,250 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,756 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,306 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,682 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,177 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,483 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,132 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,350 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,904 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,245 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,816 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,732 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,899 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,485 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,744 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,492 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,061 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,372 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,547 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,229 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,566 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,419 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,535 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,897 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,696 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,580 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,155 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,656 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,916 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 16,020 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 9, 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
