TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: On Saturday, former Scientology London staffer Alex Barnes-Ross told us about his budding friendship with Edinburgh staffer Amir Essalhi, and Amir’s journey out of Scientology. Now, they’ve had a meetup in Sunderland, and we asked Alex for his thoughts. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The credence and power of psychiatry and psychology are waning. It hit its zenith about 1960: then it seemed their word was law and that they could harm, injure and kill patients without restraint. The appearance of an actual technology of the mind — Dianetics and Scientology—has played no small part in acting as a restraint. At one time they were well on their way to turning every baby into a future robot for the manipulation of the state and every society into a madhouse of crime and immorality. The world is still suffering from the effects of that domination. There is no real reason why, using the proper technology, the criminal cannot be detected and also reformed. One might also, by the use of false data stripping, redeem a psychologist or psychiatrist—though this would be made difficult by the fact that he achieves all his power and money from the state which might have quite different purposes for him. The world is turning, things change. And there may come a day when the mad dogs of the world are not given over to the charge of mad dogs. But that will be to the degree that you successfully carry forward Dianetics and Scientology.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1980
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“That’s a trick I learned from Commander Thompson, by the way. He used to train cats. It’s almost impossible to train a house cat — I mean really train a house cat into doing all sorts of dog tricks and so forth. He used to be able to do that, and he taught me how to train cats when I was a kid. He would wait for the cat to do something and then he’d reward it. And if you don’t think that requires patience! You’re going to wait for this cat to do something that’s going to be totally accidental, and then you’re going to approve of it. Wow! Oh, you can just burn up hours and hours and hours trying to train a cat.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 11, 1957
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“TIME MACHINE ORDERS: I issue a lot of TM orders and queries. Very many of them are routed straight back to me. Those who don’t know what dreadful things happen to their Ethics Files if the TM doesn’t know they have answered the order or query should find out very fast as some Ethics Files must be getting very fat indeed. Those who think they know should check up on it. The PL to refer to is in Vol 0 of the OEC Book.” — LRH Pers Comm, February 11, 1971
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“When I was inside the ship and talking to a gray in telepathy, my body was not there, only me. Therefore there is nothing physical that can create sound, or hear sound. A spirit being normally communicates with radio frequencies, so from my experience it was like this entity was literally putting the sound in me. It is much different than hearing sound. So this would be an OT ability.”
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1998: The New York Post reported that U.S. President Bill Clinton has offered to help John Travolta with Scientology’s standing in Germany. “John Travolta says President Clinton offered to help him with a pet project – getting Scientology accepted as a religion in Germany – just as he was about to play a character based on the president. The movie is based on Joe Klein’s best-selling novel about a lying, womanizing Southern governor – modeled on Clinton – who is running for president.. George says the final product, set for release next month, is far more sympathetic to ‘Clinton’ than is the book. ‘You have to be dead not see that the film favors Clinton,’ admitted Travolta, who gained 20 pounds and streaked his hair gray to look presidential in the film. Travolta told writer Josh Young that just before ‘Primary Colors’ went before the cameras last April, the actor was in Washington to promote Scientology – a controversial belief Travolta and scores of other Hollywood types embrace. ‘The next day, I met with Clinton,’ Travolta told George. ‘He told me: ‘Your program sounds great. More than that, I’d really love to help you with your issue over in Germany with Scientology.’ For Travolta, Clinton reportedly went to the extraordinary length of assigning National Security Adviser Sandy Berger to be the administration’s Scientology point man. Berger briefed Travolta in the same manner he would a senior senator, George reports. A White House official said last night, ‘it is perfectly normal and logical’ for Berger to get involved in the Scientology issue because ‘it is in the general area of human rights concerns and this is something we have raised with the German government.'”
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“I think Tony is taking the day off and that’s just fine by me. Watch some football or somethin’ everybody.”
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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] The White House is going after ‘anti-Christian bias’ — should Scientology worry?
[TWO years ago] Here’s the 2024 Scientology Super Bowl ad, this year’s ‘mystery sandwich’
[THREE years ago] Something big is happening with Scientology in Chicago today: But will Dave be there?
[FOUR years ago] Ned McCrink, 1954-2022: The OC Ideal Org’s biggest donor sailed away from Scientology
[FIVE years ago] Scientology at its peak, part 2: See the excitement for ‘OT’ secrets in leaked 1991 video
[SIX years ago] Another drone’s eye view of the compound where Scientology is keeping Shelly Miscavige
[SEVEN years ago] Untouchable? Scientology’s 60-year plan to protect itself from the law
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology targets the Red Cross in its latest sneaky front group scheme
[NINE years ago] What happens when Scientology helps you reach ‘your full potential’
[TEN years ago] The disgraced sheriff, the Holocaust survivor, and Scientology’s most unhinged front group
[ELEVEN years ago] These are the superpowers Scientologists are paying big bucks to attain
[TWELVE years ago] It’s time to wake up our space cooties on Scientology’s New Operating Thetan Level Five!
[THIRTEEN years ago] PLEASE WELCOME OUR NEWEST READER!
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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 3,536 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,040 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,546 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,096 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,086 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,472 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,967 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,271 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,922 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,140 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,694 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,035 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,606 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,522 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,689 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,271 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,530 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,282 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,847 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,162 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,337 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,019 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,356 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,209 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,325 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,687 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,098 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,486 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,370 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,935 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,446 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,706 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,810 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 11, 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
