TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Until a friend tipped us, we had no idea the great Carey McWilliams, the crusading California journalist, had, 75 years ago this month, written a superb takedown of Dianetics, and we thought you’d enjoy this skewering of L. Ron Hubbard from one of the best observers of the time. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“It was quite obvious from the beginning that the next step after the Purification RD would be Objective Processing and this was stated in HCOB 6 Feb 78RA THE PURIFICATION RUNDOWN REPLACES THE SWEAT PROGRAM. It was also found though that a thetan, upon completion of the Purif RD, feels he is on the road towards increased survival potential if this physical universe. The idea of giving Objective processing was then expanded upon, resulting in the overwhelmingly successful Survival Rundown which has been fully piloted and results in an individual with greatly increased survival potential who is in PT and able to control and put order into his environment. It is important that one understands just how the Purification RD and the Survival RD are related.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1980
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“If anybody ever sends you to jail, by all means, go to Alcatraz. They’re tearing it down. I’m just thinking of the Federal government. Even their prisons are going to pieces. Have you, did you know that? We’ve got to audit those people, that’s all there is to it, you know, because they’re in a violent ARC break. Somebody’s missed an item on the US government. I think, personally, they missed it with a no-auditing situation. We haven’t had any plan for auditing the government. We got one president audited. That was Truman. We ain’t had anybody else audited. Now, I just think they’re suffering from no auditing. Course, so of course, that leaves all items missed. And that’s another way of missing items. But it isn’t to a violent state. Somebody must have missed a list or something on the FDA. They must have. They must have. ‘What crumb are you?’ or something like that, something. ‘What type of insect egg did you come out of?’ You know?” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 15, 1963
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“Thank you for answering my questionaire on what we should be doing. I can announce as a result of this that we are now doing what the whole crew wants us to be doing. We’re now getting operational so we can accomplish these things. We had a lot to catch up just so we could begin. All right, we’re obviously in agreement. So let’s get the show on the road and get done what we all want to do. Thank you for your help on the Questionnaire and on the ship.” — The Commodore, January 15, 1969
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“I have had recollections of running parts of Scientology on other planets. I have no specific recall of LRH being involved. I do not regard such recalls, my own included, as source data for the tech.”
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1999: Ron Newman was the target of revenge actions from Scientology following the Boston protest. A Scientologist invaded his workplace to distribute fliers, and he received two threatening emails. “Around 4 pm EST Monday afternoon, a man suddenly barged into a business meeting at my place of work and began handing out the following flyer to everyone in the meeting. I was not at this meeting. ‘Ron Newman: Unmasking a Religious Bigot [Picture of me] [Picture of Alfred E. Neuman] Ron Newman / Alfred E. Neuman: Separated at Birth? Ron Newman, of 18 Day St., Somerville, MA, who is employed at Banta Integrated Media, 222 Third St. Cambridge, has the Constitutional Right to practice whatever faith he wishes. However, it appears Newman does not respect our religious rights. He has been viciously attacking our religion in a cowardly fashion [through the internet]. Scientology has improved our lives and those of millions of people directly and through many social betterment programs. We feel this is a slap in our face and to the many of our professional working friends. We feel Newman’s religious bigotry
against our Church, which he has never been associated with, is Un-American. The United States was founded on religious tolerance and abhors religious persecution. Isn’t it time for Ron Newman to put an end to his bigotry?’ Everyone in the meeting was too startled to get a description of the trespasser, who apparently fled before anyone could detain him. They got a good laugh from it, but are concerned about whether he will make a repeat appearance. When I got home Monday night, I found the same leaflet on the windshields of cars parked in front of my apartment building. A neighbor put a copy under my door, along with a note informing me that he had found a pile of them in the lobby of my building, which he had picked up and thrown away. A leaflet had also been taped to the building’s front door.” The threatening emails: Date: 13 Jan 1999 21:40:02 -0000, To: rnewman@thecia.net, From: lcs Mixmaster Remailer mix@anon.lcs.mit.edu, Subject: just wait and see, You haven’t seen anything yet. We are tired of your harassment. Some things are more important than an individuals life, and religious liberty is one of those things. Date: 15 Jan 1999 04:30:19 -0000 From: Secret Squirrel secret_squirrel@nym.alias.net, Subject: back off or else!, To: rnewman@thecia.net, I hope you liked our little demonstration from the other day! It was to show you how close we can get to you and those around you anytime we want. Keep it up Alfred, and we will make things much, much worse for you. After you lose your job and your friends and your neighbors won’t talk to you anymore, all we’ll have left to take is, well you figure it out.”
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“You don’t have to go up the Bridge to achieve a position of power in Scientology. All you have to do is be a wily, conniving, ruthless asshole. Just like every other totalitarian organization in history.”
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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, waiting for 2nd Appellate District court to set a hearing date. 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 (eligible for parole in two to three more years). Awaiting transfer to 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 Feb 2.
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 respondent’s brief is due February 11.
— 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 is on appeal. Appeal fully briefed. Motion to replace Jane Does’ AI-tainted brief denied by court. Awaiting a court hearing date.
— 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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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] A vanished Scientology executive voted in the last election, and other surprises
[TWO years ago] The civil case against Scientology and Danny Masterson, laid out in detail
[THREE years ago] Chris Shelton talks again to the Masterson trial jury foreman — and his daughter
[FOUR years ago] Neil Sarfati on the perils of telling mainstream media about Scientology’s abuses
[FIVE years ago] Judge denies Scientology’s motion for $160,000 in sanctions against Valerie Haney
[SIX years ago] Woman named in Danny Masterson lawsuit denies she’s smearing his victims for Scientology
[SEVEN years ago] LEAH REMINI WILL AIR EPISODE WITH DANNY MASTERSON’S ACCUSERS ON FEBRUARY 18
[EIGHT years ago] Joy Villa’s former manager: ‘Scientology destroyed everything’
[NINE years ago] On the ‘Leah Remini’ Reddit special this week: A powerful Texas duo
[TEN years ago] Explain your vote, judge tells Maryland county that denied Scientology rehab
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology takes out full-page ad in the New York Times to attack Alex Gibney
[TWELVE years ago] Leah Remini talks briefly about Scientology on Access Hollywood, says very little
[THIRTEEN years ago] Paul Haggis on Scientology in NBC Interview: “It’s a Cult. Of Course It Is.”
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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 3,509 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,013 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,519 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,069 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,059 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,445 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,940 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,244 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,895 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,113 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,667 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,008 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,579 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,495 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,662 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,244 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,503 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,255 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,820 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,135 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,310 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,992 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,329 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,182 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,298 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,660 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,071 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,459 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,343 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,908 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,419 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,679 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,783 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 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, 1995-2024 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)
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Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
