TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: As we continue to look at what was happening with Lisa McPherson 30 years ago in real time, our sources help us understand why the pull her boss had as a major Scientology donor played an important part in how Lisa was being pressured to succeed despite her obvious mental health issues. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Recently I noticed quite a few programs were not progressing rapidly. I found many targets bugged. Project Operators did not seem to know what to do and were getting losses and becoming frustrated. Their targets were ‘bugged.’ ‘Bugged’ is slang for snarled up or halted. ‘Debug’ means to get the snarls or stops out of something. I had always been given to believe somebody had developed and written up debug tech. People would often tell me they had debugged this or that, so of course I assumed that the tech existed and that issues and checksheets existed and were in use. Yet here were people operating projects who couldn’t get the targets done by themselves or others.” — 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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“The only other thing I could tell that you really need to know about this meter is, when it’s all the way up to the vicinity of 6.0 or even into the black, you’re reading a thetan who believes he is dead. Completely aside from the theta bop, these are the readings of a body if it were dead: But the thetan believes he’s dead up that high. I learned this from plants. When plants think they’re dead, man, they rise right up there and there they are. And a plant can conceive that it’s dead long before it departs. It says, ‘I’m dead,’ goes right on up here to 6.0. After that, you get no needle motion. You get nothing.” — L. Ron Hubbard, November 16, 1959
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“You know, I get an idea of what it must be like for the Space Command Vessel ‘Astra’ to land amongst the Ooglie-Booglies and try to explain their perfectly innocent but super modern procedures for measuring gravity and communicating. They turn on an intercomm and the Ooglie-Booglies go into terror rumours that the Astra keeps live men in little boxes! Even staid old England has it that we deal in black magic! Certainly anything that works as fast as our tech and admin MUST be magical! REASSURANCE is the keynote of showing anyone around this ship. Show them the fire dectors, the gyro room, the electro-log, the two radars, where they are on the chart, how lifeboats work, copies of the SWPB. Feed them well, give them lots of drinks. Whoever is in charge of the guests should be inventive of things to interest them and be REASSURING, noting and cheering up any misunderstoods. Make good friends out of the guests.” — The Commodore, November 16, 1969
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“Don’t forget that LRH did a lot of research. I.e., why does the body sleep? Because of the photosynthesis cycle? Even if bodies were manufactured, why do cells retain memory in the form of engrams? Hmm. Also if bodies are manufactured you have to have a thetan in them to animate them, yeah? Hence an entity, yeah? Hmmm when people think they are famous well that’s a matter for auditing. The track is very long and there are many similar planets and times and lives operating on the same implants. Before bodies there were thetans and theta traps and war with MEST biengs. I don’t care who thinks what they were and how fantastical it gets just if they blow charge.”
2001: From letters to the editor of the Riverside Press: “Every time we drive out to Gilman Springs road in San Jacinto we can’t help notice the Scientology and Golden Era Studios all lit up like Las Vegas. Eve the big old ship has it’s lights on. Every two feet or so has a light lit up and eve all of the fence posts. Talk about energy waste this is the place. I don’t understand why they get away with it. – A W Y, Hemet California”
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“My wife used to say the reason I was a such a morbid negative weirdo was because of all the horrible stories my dad use to tell me about Korea and WWII and all the other mondo cane shit he saw during his time in the merchant marines. I think she may have been right.”
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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:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— 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 still can’t believe you haven’t become cool enough to save the planet
[TWO years ago] Hear the threats that an Alabama man pleaded guilty for sending to Mark Bunker
[THREE years ago] And now we wait: Jury deliberations in the Danny Masterson trial
[FOUR years ago] How do we know the ‘Chase Wave’ happened? ‘Aftermath’ guest Mark Fladd: ‘I was part of it’
[FIVE years ago] Judge in Danny Masterson lawsuit doubts Scientology ‘arbitration,’ sets hearing
[SIX years ago] Scientology banned his book and trashed him as an apostate. Here’s his full-throated reply!
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s ‘Super Power’ poster boy gets dunked on by yet another irked judge
[EIGHT years ago] How Pete Griffiths sued a Scientologist and ended up being vilified by former friends
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s websites try a little too hard to convince you that all is right in crazy town
[TEN years ago] Lisa McPherson in Orlando: What her hotel roommate witnessed, and the Slaughter rule
[ELEVEN years ago] Sunday Funnies: Get yer boots on for some Scientology line dancing in Austin!
[TWELVE years ago] Jon Atack: Did Mary Sue Hubbard Doubt Scientology’s Key Experience?
[THIRTEEN years ago] Scientology’s Big Gamble: “Golden Age of Tech 2” Is Here!
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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 3,449 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,953 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,459 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,009 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,999 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,385 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,880 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,184 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,835 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,053 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,607 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,948 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,519 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,435 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,602 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,184 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,443 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,480 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,195 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,760 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,075 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,250 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,932 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,269 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,122 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,238 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,600 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,011 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,399 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,283 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,848 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,359 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,619 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,723 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on November 16, 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, 1995-2024 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)
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, 20 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
