TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Mitch Brisker, Scientology’s former film director, says that he doesn’t care how Elena Cardone tells her life story: ‘But because she and Grant met as a result of my casting them both in the same video, I get to correct the record.’ Oh, this is a fun one. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The dramatizing psychotic is almost always recognized as a psychotic. Such a person is caught either in one engram or in a series of engrams. He will play through a literal recording of the engram on any occasion. He will switch from valence to valence during the playback of these recordings with amazing rapidity. He will pick up new valences from the people around, and will, in general, occupy any valence other than his own. His reaction to the command phrases of the engrams is literal and he is solely dedicated to carrying out these commands. The bewildering variety of the classes of psychotics is simply due to the language which is used while engrams are being formed.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“Handling Security Checks in a society of this particular character, then, runs into a little bit of heavy weather. And you very often run into some heavy weather. Somebody’s sitting there and, good God, they’re the fellow who did it, you know, and what are you going to do as the auditor, you know?…What is your responsibility as an auditor? Well, it’s, your responsibility as an auditor is first and foremost as an auditor, is get the person out of it. You’re not the police force. Don’t you see? And then you actually are not honor bound from that point there on to be under a stamp and seal of total secrecy with regard to the fact that the First National Bank was robbed by Joe, you see. But don’t go calling up the police. They’re on the wrong road. Cops never get a society anyplace. Cops are a short-term proposition, strictly. The more cops, the more crime.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 13, 1961
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“We have so far sent back two FEBC graduates. W/O Owen Starkey to AOSHDK and Wayne Marples to NY. They both left in a hurry to save their orgs. Starkey has halted the GDS collapse and has most of them on a healthy climb. They both had a lot of beautiful things to say about Flag and its people.” — The Commodore, September 13, 1970
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“I am waiting to attest for an advanced level that has created a space around me free from interference and case phenomena! It feels clean, calm and serene! I’m still getting used to it! Before I would make a postulate and it would rebound back at me or get lost in the confusion of counter intentions. Now I simply decide and my space has nothing counter to throw back at me! New business? Check. New car? Check. New house? Check. These are just the surface manifestations occurring recently. Theta wise I perceive a whole new existence. Picture Neo seeing the Matrix for the first time possibly. I’m getting very acquainted with the theta universe and its subtle yet powerful control of the MEST universe. Big shift! Prior to that it was hit-and-miss with Lady Luck deciding mostly. Not any more. There is more composure and certainty than before, it feels as if I’m ready to handle the bigger stuff, cant wait!!”
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2001: For a few hours on the day of the terrorist attacks, Fox News ran the number for Scientology at the bottom of the screen. From Stacy Brooks: “Fox News is running an announcement at the bottom of their screen directing people to call 1-800-FOR-TRUTH for national mental health assistance. This is part of what is running on the screen: NYPD WARNS OF CRUEL SCAMS: FAMILIES OF MISSING PERSONS URGED NOT TO GIVE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS TO PEOPLE POSING AS RESCUE WORKERS… PET RESCUE CALL ANIMAL CARE & CONTROL: 888-567-8123… NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE: 800-FOR-TRUTH… When you call that number the person answers: ‘Dianetics Help Center, can I help you?'” Fox News removed the phone number and offered this explanation in an email: “It was a stupid screw up and it’s gone. Thanks for your note. Ken LaCorte, L.A. Bureau Chief, Fox News Channel.” The St. Petersburg Times reported the appearance of the phone number: “Television viewers who turned to Fox News on Friday for coverage of the terrorist attack also saw a message scrolling across the bottom of their screens – National Mental Health Assistance: 800-FOR-TRUTH. Unknown to the cable news channel, the phone number connects to a Church of Scientology center in Los Angeles, where Scientologists were manning the phones. ‘It was entirely a good-faith attempt to help people,’ said Ben Shaw, a Clearwater Scientology official. Church spokesman Kurt Weiland in Los Angeles said the phrase ‘National Mental Health Assistance’ must have come from Fox. ‘I can assure you it didn’t come from us,’ he said. Scientology firmly opposes psychiatry, and church members campaign to eliminate psychiatric practices in mental health. Fox News spokesman Robert Zimmerman said the station received an e-mail about the hotline and aired the number without checking it. ‘The bottom line is we (messed) up,’ Zimmerman said. ‘Unfortunately, it didn’t get vetted. We apologize.’ The hotline information ran for several hours – once appearing below the image of President Bush and his wife, Laura, at the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance in Washington. The news channel yanked the information Friday after learning of the Scientology connection, Zimmerman said. Michael Faenza, president and chief executive of the National Mental Health Association, called the hotline number ‘outrageous’ and said Scientology ‘is the last organization’ emotionally vulnerable people should call. ‘They just leave a wake of destruction in the realm of mental health,’ he said. The mental health association, based in Virginia, is the country’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects of mental health and mental illness. ‘This is a very important and sensitive time,’ Faenza said. ‘I’d urge the Church of Scientology to stay out of the mental health side of what happens in the country now.’ In some cases, callers were referred by the four Scientologists answering the phones to agencies compiling information about missing people. In other cases, callers were directed to agencies taking collections, Weiland said. If people called crying and upset, he said, they were told they could visit a Scientology center. When a reporter called, a volunteer said free copies of a booklet, Solutions for a Dangerous Environment, were available to callers. The booklet is a Scientology publication based on the works of L. Ron Hubbard, although that was not mentioned in the phone call.”
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“It seems to me that Narconon preys on folks out in the hinterland and down south where detoxes are few and far between and the people are less up on this kind of stuff.”
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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 teaches that your life was ruined by your oversexed parents
[TWO years ago] Family forced disconnection: A wound Scientology won’t stop pouring salt into
[THREE years ago] More letters — from Ethan Suplee and others — on behalf of Danny Masterson to Judge Olmedo
[FOUR years ago] AUDIO: Nation of Islam’s Louis Farrakhan says Rizza Islam is accused of ‘horrible charge’
[FIVE years ago] Scientology sends out creepy letters to lure you back in, and other gems from our mailbag
[SIX years ago] What Scientologists are telling each other on social media right this very minute
[SEVEN years ago] No, RadarOnline did not discover a new underground bunker at Scientology’s Gold Base
[EIGHT years ago] How a Scientology-run business preyed on Silicon Valley icons in the name of ‘wellness’
[NINE years ago] Ford Greene responds to Marty Rathbun, and brings up a previous Scientology secret deal
[TEN years ago] Co-writer Dan Koon answers accusations about the accuracy of Ron Miscavige’s ‘Ruthless’
[ELEVEN years ago] Paul Haggis, Lawrence Wright react to Alex Gibney’s Emmys sweep for ‘Going Clear’
[TWELVE years ago] Ryan Hamilton files 20th lawsuit against Scientology’s drug rehab network
[THIRTEEN years ago] MONIQUE RATHBUN VS SCIENTOLOGY, DAY 2: Texas Showdown Shifts Gears
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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 3,750 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,254 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,760 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,310 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,686 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,181 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,487 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,136 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,354 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,908 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,249 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,820 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,736 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,903 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,489 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,748 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,496 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,065 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,376 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,551 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,233 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,570 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,423 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,539 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,901 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,700 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,584 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,159 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,660 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,920 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 16,024 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 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, 1995-2025 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
