TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Scientology may have won the battle to expand its UK headquarters, but the fine print has arrived, and it’s surprisingly restrictive, Alex Barnes-Ross tells us. ALSO: Mandatory ‘interviews’ at the Flag Land Base? [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“That group which values its survival as a group at all would do well to learn group-necessity-value and how to express it. The group can bring all pressure toward any leader or sub-leader to effect the highest ARC possible. Then each member of the group can perform his duties in the most efficient and prideful manner possible. And each group member should act to maintain high ARC in the internal organization. This can raise group tone to a point where group tone raises individual tone and the climbing survival level complements itself interactively. A volume of energy at a high tone level, once attained, operates with a kind of velocity. Given so much impetus it thereafter maintains itself and begins to gather more volume and higher tone as an automatic action. Like the ram jet which, at the speed of sound has attained almost perpetual motion and constant speed, so can a group, by artificially attaining necessity level, begin an automatic, self-supporting rise in the group volume and tone. This point is very high but is worth striving for since an individual in such a group soars up the tone scale as a direct result.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1951
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“Everybody is a southpaw earlier on the track, and they’ve shifted over in desperation to the right hand. Well, this southpaw in space opera came about — para-Scientology — came about where the individual carried his gun on the left-hand side of the body and drew it and used it with the left hand (the blaster and so forth). And you’ll find that people are very, very unwilling to use their left hands. They just don’t want to — don’t want to use that left hand and — because it kills people. Just as simple as that. And when people get killed their emotional kickback and so forth, is telegraphed through on the back blast and it makes one feel bad and one goes on down Tone Scale on a — on the overt act-motivator mechanism.” — L. Ron Hubbard, October 17, 1953
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“The barometer in this area is known to go from very low to very high within 5 days. Hurricanes seldom come here and usually reach only 60 to 85 mph winds. We are in a “moving depression” that isn’t moving. The ship is quite safe where she is. Only ‘Moderate to fresh winds gusting strong’ and ‘Rain’ is forecast for where we are. Golly that glass got low!” — The Commodore, October 17, 1970
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“I think Trump might be an angel, or an alien with some of the powers you guys imagine for an OT. He certainly is a ‘Big Being.’ I keep catching glimpses of a column of white light 10 feet across coming down from above surrounding, protecting and empowering him.”
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2000: Reuters published a profile of Scientology celebrity Ann Archer. “‘We are all born to act, it’s what we do. We will do it until the day we die, whether we do it on film or on stage,’ she told Reuters at Frankfurt, the world’s largest book fair. The fair does not usually attract Hollywood stars — but she was there to publicize an exhibition about the late American science fiction writer L Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, which claims more than eight million adherents worldwide. Hollywood stars John Travolta and Tom Cruise are, like Archer, members of the Church of Scientology. What, then, was the attraction? Archer said: ‘One thing Mr. Hubbard really brings to an artist is an understanding that his talent is limitless.'”
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“I’m still amazed considering the subject of this forum when I read folks wondering about the efficacy of homeopathy, naturopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic medicine etc. People, assume everything’s a scam or magical thinking and work it back from there.”
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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 heard and submitted, waiting for ruling. 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. Scientology’s attempt to gut the case failed, and appeals court upheld. Back to trial court in December.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ 17 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. Case returning 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. Hearing on arbitration motion set for March, 2027.
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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 has found its secret weapon to take over the planet. He’s 23.
[TWO years ago] Scientology breakthrough: Finally, after 74 years, a solution for clamminess
[THREE years ago] This guy was so upset after Scientology, he spilled the OT 3 secrets in a 1974 classified ad!
[FOUR years ago] Scientology goes Xtreme! With the pandemic lifted, time to go straight up and vertical!
[FIVE years ago] New allegation: Woman says she was raped by Danny Masterson at ‘Dracula 2000’ cast party
[SIX years ago] SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tommy Davis threatens to sue Aussie network over axed series
[SEVEN years ago] He freed key documents from Scientology’s rehabs, and now he can talk about it
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology tried to ruin her. Now, Sylvia DeWall has a message for her former friends and family.
[NINE years ago] On tonight’s ‘Leah Remini,’ reality star Mimi Faust takes on Scientology’s harm to family
[TEN years ago] Scientology finally uses trillions of years of wisdom for something useful: The perfect burger
[ELEVEN years ago] When Scientology makes you a villain, you understand that it rules its members by fear
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology leader David Miscavige gets in just under the wire in NAFC lawsuit
[THIRTEEN years ago] Starting Today: Jefferson Hawkins Helps Us Get Our Scientology Ethics In!
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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 3,784 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,288 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,794 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,344 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,720 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,215 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,521 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,170 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,388 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,942 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,283 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,853 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,770 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,937 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,523 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,782 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,530 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,099 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,410 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,585 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,267 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,604 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,457 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,573 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,935 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,734 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,578 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,193 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,694 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,954 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 16,058 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on October 17, 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
