TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Maybe it was just two mega-stars watching a football game. But when one is Tom Cruise, questions about Scientology come up. And maybe now there will be more attention on what we brought up last year: Taylor Swift’s name appearing in Scientology’s bible. Say what? [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The psychotic who has part of his brain missing is not difficult to spot. He is not so much a case of irrationality, as of simply an inability to be rational. Something is missing from this person and it can be felt much more easily than it can be described. They may or may not dramatize, but if they do, it will not follow the same set kind of pattern which is followed by the dramatizing psychotic. Mostly, they simply are not able to control themselves in some fashion or another.
These persons can be helped by dianetic processing, but a complete job of rehabilitation would be manifestly impossible for them.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“Now, we are not in conflict with the customs and philosophy of the planet or the universe. Quite the contrary. It’s not a case of everybody is out of step but Jim. It’s a case of others want people badly out of step. And they’re getting them pretty badly out of step. But if you can talk to and communicate with anybody on the subject of Scientology, he agrees with what you’d say. He agrees very rapidly with what you say, unless he misses a word. If he misses a word then he won’t agree with what you’ve said, but you are actually talking to him about things which have been with him as customs, far, far, far longer than any Johnny-come-lately psychology or mental science that has been foisted off on him in recent times.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 15, 1964
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“With a lot of fireworks of all kinds the Great Word Clearing Festival got off to a start. There was a small amount of excitement when two lions escaped and rushed to the galley. But instead of eating the cook, he put them to work washing dishes. That’s why you had paw prints on your plates this morning.” — The Commodore, September 15, 1971
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“As far as this society goes, I’m out there in the world, I see the decline. As an example, I work with a couple who are upper middle class and I have gotten to know their friends. My couple are the very few who don’t do psychiatric drugs or drugs of any kind and the only ones winning in their marriage — thanks to this tech. Ron had his hands full is all I can say. Anyone attacking him and the tech are the ‘classifiables.’ I have a much better understanding of why it was hard to have the dynamics in and to make money on staff. Believe it or not it is still the 3D that is going to clear this planet and it has to be done.”
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1996: Dave Touretzky posted a letter to Roger Milgrim, attorney for Scientology. Dave responded to Milgram’s letter threatening legal action over the NOTS Scholar’s page, which does not contain the NOTS materials. “I appreciate your assurance that RTC does not desire to engage in litigation with me over this web site or impinge on my legitimate First Amendment rights. In return, let me assure you that I have no desire to become involved in litigation either, or to violate RTC’s legal rights to its intellectual property. From its inception, my web site has been devoted to the scholarly analysis and criticism of the NOTs documents to the extent permitted by law, but no further. I have always tried to obey the law as it pertains to these documents, and I find it significant that your letter does not allege any illegalities in either the present version of The NOTs Scholars Home Page or any previous version. Your concern, as expressed in the concluding paragraph of your letter, appears to be about illegal actions your clients imagine might occur at some time in the future. Let me begin by affirming that I understand the NOTs documents to be copyrighted works, and I have no desire to violate the rights of the copyright holder. Furthermore, my web site has always included the warning that while anyone may submit commentaries on the NOTs documents, ‘materials that clearly violate US copyright law will not be accepted.’ Third, you write that my web page ‘appears’ to contain a solicitation to receive the NOTs documents themselves. I do not believe that solicitation of access to someone’s legally-obtained NOTs pack for purposes of scholarly research would violate Pennsylvania law, but in any case, my web page contains no such request. The ‘Call for Contributions’ section asks for ‘information, commentary, and criticism of any aspect of NOTs.’ I never intended this to be construed as a solicitation of the documents themselves, and I don’t believe most readers would make this mistake.”
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“Jeez, does everybody around here have a sock except me?”
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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] When Lolita met Xenu: How Scientology targeted Nabokov’s publisher
[TWO years ago] She denied Scientology’s Xenu to the BBC. Now she’s OT 3. Whoopsie!
[THREE years ago] SCIENTOLOGY PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR UNDER OATH: Quizzed about following Leah Remini
[FOUR years ago] Paul Haggis opposes motion to keep Scientology out of next month’s trial
[FIVE years ago] Would you purchase a Scientology E-meter from this man?
[SIX years ago] Scientologist chiro Nobbe: There’s an innocent explanation, judge. Prosecutors: No there isn’t.
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology reels in politicians and gets photo ops out of Hurricane Dorian
[EIGHT years ago] Sharp new memoir digs into Scientology’s toxic cruelty experienced by those who grow up in it
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s newest infiltration — Rebecca Minkoff and Meghan Fialkoff at Nasdaq!
[TEN years ago] SCIENTOLOGY DENIED: California Supreme Court rejects appeal in forced-abortion lawsuit
[ELEVEN years ago] Back where it all started: Hoping to see you in Phoenix to talk Scientology then and now
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology’s secret plans for world domination — even better than the last time!
[THIRTEEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Texas Memories, Valley Whales, and Top Secret Plans!
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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 3,752 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,256 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,762 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,312 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,688 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,183 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,489 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,138 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,356 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,910 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,251 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,821 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,738 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,905 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,491 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,750 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,498 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,067 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,378 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,553 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,235 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,572 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,425 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,541 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,903 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,702 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,586 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,161 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,662 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,922 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 16,026 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 15, 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
