TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Our resurrected convention HowdyCon begins this Friday. We are thrilled that Marc Headley will be coming, along with other luminaries from across the country. And our silent auction is live, benefiting the Aftermath Foundation! ALSO: Scientology action in LA! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The dramatizing psychotic has formed, prior to Dianetics, the most incomprehensible and the most irrational of all the classes of behavior. They form the bulk of those who are considered insane, and are generally thought to be hopeless unless they respond to shock therapy of one kind or another. A knowledge of engrams and the action of engrams is all that is necessary to enable a person of normal intelligence to understand the actions of a dramatizing psychotic. These actions are overt engrams — engrams face-to-face.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“All right now, let’s look at an engram. An engram isn’t very serious if somebody walks up and steps on your toes and says, ‘You skunk.’ That’s not very serious because there’s not very much chaos there into which to put a stable datum. But if this individual walked up to you from behind, slugged you over the head, kicked you in the ribs, wound you up in the hospital, but somewhere in the midst of all of this he said, ‘You’re a skunk,’ you’d probably start to smell like one.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 14, 1955
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“There’s a need for the FEBC like the Sahara needs water. Public demand is high. The contemporary staffs don’t really know how to give service or handle. Well, we’ll make it anyway. A lot of good guys out there. At least we know exactly where we’re going and exactly what to do to get there. Maybe we’re the only ones on Earth who do.” — The Commodore, September 14, 1970
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“At some point (as soon as possible) we need a central organization as Ron envisioned it. I love all his ethics, tech and admin. The only time I saw it not work was when it was misapplied or abused. I completely see Scientology as the solution to this planet and it won’t happen without a large central organization. Period. We just have to get better at the 3D.”
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1995: A victory this week in the suit against Larry Wollersheim and Bob Penny. A summary of Judge Kane’s ruling from Kim Baker: “In RTC vs. FACTNet, Judge Kane said that RTC did not prove probability of success of their case. Equally, RTC did not show the probability of their claim. FACTNet was entitled to its use of the documents under the fair use provisions under section 107 of the copyright rules. FACTNet’s criticism, comment and debate qualifies it to fair use of the documents. RTC did not show infringement, and did not show that their claim of “trade secrets” was valid. The documents were in the public domain, and were proved to
have been on the Internet long before the August raids. It was not proved that the “trade secrets” were the kind that are protected under the law. RTC did not show irreparable injury; any injury they may have does not outweigh the harm done to Lawrence Wollersheim, Bob Penny and FACTNet. The actions of the defendants would not restrain individuals from joining $cientology – if they are interested in participating in $cientology they would anyway. The question of infringement is answered by the fair use principles. The public interest is more served in the continuation of FACTNet. The balance of the danger of harm is in the favor of the defendants, rather than $cientology. All computers and peripherals, along with seized documents, are to be returned immediately, in precisely the same condition as when seized, and in precisely the same location when seized.”
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“A question that has crossed my mind in the past is, if someone cynically creates a religion/spiritual movement for their own personal gain, but its followers truly believe in it, does one negate the other?”
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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] The turning point: When paranoia became official Scientology policy
[TWO years ago] Scientology is the key to happiness! Just ask this guy.
[THREE years ago] Greek church calls BS on Scientology: Why doesn’t this happen more often?
[FOUR years ago] Now with no restrictions: Our podcast series on the Scientology docuseries that never aired
[FIVE years ago] Danny Masterson’s civil attorney adds Prince Andrew as a client and Twitter loses its mind
[SIX years ago] Leah Remini wins second ‘Aftermath’ Emmy, for episode about Danny Masterson
[SEVEN years ago] Mark ‘Wise Beard Man’ Bunker: His Scientology-protesting past and political future
[EIGHT years ago] Jesse Prince, witness to Scientology’s ugliest behavior, spills it all in new book
[NINE years ago] Is Ohio’s newest legislator a Scientologist? ‘I had him on the cans,’ says our man in Cincy
[TEN years ago] DRONE FLYOVER: Scientology’s secret base where David Miscavige keeps wife out of sight
[ELEVEN years ago] Another rare Scientology video leaks, and this time we see its long vanished president
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Smile while you write that check, pardner!
[THIRTEEN years ago] THE TEXAS POST-GAME REPORT: Scientology, Monique Rathbun, and Judge Dib Waldrip
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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 3,751 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,255 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,761 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,311 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,687 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,182 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,488 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,137 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,355 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,909 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,250 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,820 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,737 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,904 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,490 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,749 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,497 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,066 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,377 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,552 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,234 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,571 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,424 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,540 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,902 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,701 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,585 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,160 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,661 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,921 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 16,025 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 14, 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
