TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The FBI raided a church in Tampa yesterday over forced labor allegations — and it had nothing to do with Scientology. Former Scientologists have been waiting for similar news out of the Tampa/Clearwater area, but about a ‘church’ whose abuses have been laid bare for decades. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Between 1945 and 1973 I studied the endocrine system. In 1973 it seemed that minerals and trace minerals operating in the blood stream and circulated by other body fluids were a key to glandular interactions. The theory is: Every gland in the body specializes in one or more minerals and actually that is how they make themselves interact one with another. The endocrine system of the body monitors the endocrine system of the body apparently through minerals. As various drugs upset the whole endocrine system of the body you can see that the moment you start administering vitamins and sweat out and things like that you’re going to get a mineral demand in the body. Therefore, there would need to be certain mineral dosages right along with the rest of this package.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1979
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
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“I’ll give you an idea. You’re coffee shopping with somebody and you say, ‘You realize that there’s a GPM devoted to homosexuality in the between-lives implants? There is one!’ And he says, ‘Oh, I don’t really think so.’ He says, ‘Well, get the idea now, just get the idea of “to be a homosexual.” Just get that idea for a moment, and you’ll see.’ Ha! That, of course, throws that GPM alive, see? Just discussing it isn’t going to do very much about it, see. You got to concentrate, somebody’s got to concentrate his attention on it! Him or somebody else, you know, has got to look right at it, you know, straight at it and bang!” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 28, 1963
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“With a checksheet on this and on that, Ship Admin and Specialist actions as well as standard Pol and Tech courses, a member of Flag gets to be one of the most educated fellows you ever did see. If the society taught all these things in college it would be quite a society. A member of Flag doesn’t really realize all he’s come to know I suppose until he compares it to what others know or don’t know. Some of the actions of the world or society or other ships look pretty dim.” — The Commodore, August 28, 1970
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“If you bothered to talk to your spirits instead of getting rid of them you would find out that many of them would rather be managed and be productive rather than sit around and grumping at each other. OT 7s and OT 8s still have tons of spirits (BT’s) around them and do not recognize that these beings are there since they have attested to being free of them. I give my spirits a choice after freeing them from the incidents they are stuck in. They are free to start a new life or they can join me and work on my projects. About 18 percent want to stay and help.”
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1998: The Associated Press reported that the Cult Awareness Network lost its bid to have the 9th Circuit Court hear an appeal of the judgment that put it out of business. “Seven federal appellate judges said Wednesday that free speech was threatened by their court’s ruling upholding $1.09 million in damages against an anti-cult organization for its role in trying to ‘deprogram’ a Washington state teen-ager. ‘We have taken a great leap backwards in the protection of First Amendment freedoms,’ Judge Alex Kozinski, writing for the seven, said in arguing that the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals should reconsider the ruling. He said the Cult Awareness Network did not employ the deprogrammer or approve his actions and was bankrupted by the ruling. But the court said the request for a rehearing had failed to gain a majority vote among the court’s 21 active judges. Under its rules, the vote total was not announced. The ruling could be appealed to the Supreme Court. In Wednesday’s dissent from the denial of a rehearing, Kozinski said CAN knew nothing about the referral to Ross or his attempt to deprogram Scott, and had no control over it. He said CAN had referred callers to people who would perform involuntary deprogramming on minor children, a legal practice as long as no violence is used. The organization opposed the involuntary deprogramming of adults. ‘CAN effectively died as a direct result of this judgment, and the mission its supporters set out to accomplish died with it,’ Kozinski wrote. ‘This result is troubling regardless of where one falls on the political spectrum.'”
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“Hezbollah, Hamas, Black Panthers, IRA, and Hells Angels have all done more charity work than the Church of Scientology ever has or will.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. DA’s response to appeal brief due August 13.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing December 1.
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. Leah’s appeal brief was filed June 3. Respondent briefs are due September 2.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal. Jane Does’ response to Scientology’s appeal brief submitted July 30. Scientology’s reply due October 20.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
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After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: 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 restarts ‘Celebrity,’ but spills underage confession in ‘Source’
[TWO years ago] Before Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard wanted to be thought of like one of his pulp fiction heroes
[THREE years ago] Valerie Haney names Tom Cruise for arbitrator (and Shelly Miscavige if Tom is busy)
[FOUR years ago] Tom Cruise’s Scientology superpowers, No. 5: Leaving his body with full perception
[FIVE years ago] Clearwater Councilman Mark Bunker’s radical suggestion: Embrace Scientology?
[SIX years ago] London, Scientology is coming for you!
[SEVEN years ago] It’s primary day in Florida, and here’s how Scientology will be voting
[EIGHT years ago] Tomorrow’s ‘Leah Remini’: When Scientology destroys a family, it burns it to the ground
[NINE years ago] How Scientology’s anti-psychiatry front turns a real controversy into fake outrage
[TEN years ago] California judge orders trial to determine if Scientology drugged incoming rehab patients
[ELEVEN years ago] Ladies and gentlemen, the greatest Scientology video in the history of Scientology videos
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Legal Roundup: Per Wickstrom’s Fine Whine, And More!
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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 3,369 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,873 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,379 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,929 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,919 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,305 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,800 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,104 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,755 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,973 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,527 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,868 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,439 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,355 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,522 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,104 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,363 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,400 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,116 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,680 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,995 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,170 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,852 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,189 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,042 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,158 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,520 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,929 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,319 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,203 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,768 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,279 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,539 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,643 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 28, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now 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, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
