TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The Bunker held its first HowdyCon convention since 2019 this weekend in New London, CT. And during yesterday’s talks, Claire Headley gave us a welcome surprise, the title and cover for her forthcoming memoir! ALSO: Tom Cruise gets the takedown he deserves [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“It is of utmost importance that an auditor should have full confidence that something can be done for the psychotic. This point again underscores the importance of a genuine, firsthand acquaintance with the way engrams aberrate. Once the simple, mechanical point is grasped emotionally as well as intellectually that ALL ABERRATION IS DUE TO ENGRAMS it follows irrefutably that something can be done with any person who can be induced to recount his engram to a person who is in communication with him. A dianetic auditor, understanding why the psychotic acts the way he does and says the things he does, is in a position to be in communication with the psychotic. A person whose sole attempt is to try to force present-time reality on a person who is caught in a past-time event, is in no such position.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“Age is hooked on to the body, normally, by the thetan himself as self-expression. And it is held in place in terms of engrams and secondaries. It’s held right there, man. Anything that is wrong with a body is held into it and on it by the thetan who has that body. That’s it. As long as he believes he can’t grow a new leg, he won’t have one, either.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 20, 1962
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“FESTIVAL: Completions are up! The Ringmaster was gone for a while but made it anyway. Ten lions failed to report to their pedestals. A difficult knot will now be tied in their tails to give them enough problems. Then they’ll be able to audit. Somehow the show went on and went on very well. TODAY we are going to shoot the roof off.” — The Commodore, September 20, 1971
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“If you don’t know yet, Ron has reincarnated in a new body in the USA. Right now he is developing new tech which goes much more deeper in the case, and much more easy to audit with real wins! I am using this new tech since 2018, and all my guys who were bogged in NOTs, solo NOTs, Ron’s Org, any level are now flying and are stables! Furthermore a new bridge is being created! and all the bridge will be done in solo auditing even for someone starting! By the way the name of this new Scientology is ESPERIANISM. ESP means extra-sensory perceptions! We are aiming to make real OTs now!”
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2001: Mark Plummer reported a protest in Austin, Texas this week. “For approximately one hour and fifteen minutes yesterday I engaged in an information campaign near the University of Texas at Austin. I arrived on Guadalupe Street around 1PM. I had been joined shortly before by ‘Icee’ and ‘Roscoe’, who offered to help leaflet as well as document my activities with a Hi-8 video camera and a digital camera. After a few minutes, a young, pimpled fellow, perhaps around 5’4′, with blonde hair and a wrinkled blue shirt approached me asking, ‘Why are you doing this?’ I inquired whether he was a Scientologist, to which he stated, ‘No; I’m just curious.’ Sensing that he was lying to me, I handed him a flier with ‘www.xenu.net’ printed on it, and I told him to read the web site, saying, ‘The information is all there.’ A little while later I noticed Cathy Norman, Director of Special Affairs of the Austin Org, standing outside of her cult’s building. In the 75 minutes we were there, ‘Icee’ managed to pass out approximately 125 fliers, all with ‘www.xenu.net’ on them. I continued walking back and forth on Guadalupe Street with my two signs, occasionally stopping to answer questions from some of the curious wogs. An Austin policeman approached me asking whether he could speak to me. He was accompanied by another cop who just stood by and listened. Cathy Norman began taking photos of me talking with the police. I asked the first policeman if I had been accused of having committed a crime, to which he responded, ‘Yes, she says that around a year and a half ago you put graffiti on their building.’ I assured him that I had not, to which his response was, ‘Do you know who did?’ I told him that I do not know, and in fact that I hadn’t even seen the graffiti alleged to have been put on their building. I explained ‘FAIR GAME’ to the policemen, and told them why the culties were harassing me by making false allegations in an attempt to get me arrested. The first policeman assured me that I was completely within my rights to engage in my information campaign, and I thanked him while handing him a ‘www.xenu.net’ flier.”
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“Seeing as how there’s no objective reality in Scientology, everything is a game. The Thetans created the MEST universe so they could have a playground to play in.”
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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’s shills line up to sing its praises for crucial planning application
[TWO years ago] Tracey McManus heading to Dallas after stellar Scientology reporting in Florida
[THREE years ago] Bijou Phillips divorcing Danny Masterson: A marriage over, or a purely legal maneuver?
[FOUR years ago] Olmedo rules: After grand jury revelation, the court’s words for Danny Masterson’s lawyers
[FIVE years ago] Eureka! Clearwater Scientology member sells quantum protection from 5G and Covid 19
[SIX years ago] How should we judge the rejection Scientology received in the heartland this week?
[SEVEN years ago] Garcias answer Scientology’s cross-appeal, COSRECI coughs up dox, and a new church vid!
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology ‘disconnection’ and the incalculable damage it does to children
[NINE years ago] Of course Jada Smith was a Scientologist, says principal who ran her Scientology school
[TEN years ago] Cat White’s marriage to man suing Jim Carrey was a sham to beat immigration, and was not her first fake wedding, say friends
[ELEVEN years ago] L. Ron Hubbard, would-be conqueror: Scientology’s fable about Rhodesia is a riot
[TWELVE years ago] Sneaky Scientology finds another way to get access to high school students
[THIRTEEN years ago] JENNA HILL RESPONDS TO BARBARA WALTERS ON SCIENTOLOGY EDUCATION
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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 3,757 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,261 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,767 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,317 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,693 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,188 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,494 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,143 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,361 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,915 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,256 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,826 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,743 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,910 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,496 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,755 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,503 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,072 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,383 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,558 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,240 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,577 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,430 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,546 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,908 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,707 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,591 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,166 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,667 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,927 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 16,031 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 20, 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
