TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We continue to see evidence that Scientology is struggling to recruit new members, especially the young. But it does try, and we thought you’d want to see some of the ‘success stories’ the church has posted recently, featuring youngsters just beginning their journey. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“The way the Survival Rundown works is this: it gets the person into present time and in control of his body and in good communication with the things of his environment. It also works to un-fixate a person’s attention from the body where, for some, it may have been stuck for some time. On the Survival Rundown there are processes which get the person in touch with the world around him and which reacquaint a person, newly purified from the Purification Rundown, with the physical universe and get him causative over it.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1980
——————–
“I just had a phone call from California, by the way: A girl who was on the handbook — fifteen hours, really, on the handbook, running it through — went down to a secretarial course (never seen a typewriter before), sat down and read the chart, spent ten minutes reading the chart, sat down at the typewriter with blank keys and started writing at twenty-five words a minute. Here sits an atom bomb. That atom bomb is a complete threat to this whole society, culture, your body, your civilization.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 18, 1952
——————–
“REGRET: I am sorry that Ethics has to be stepped up. But each day a few more omissions land on my desk. The FSO and FAO have not formed up and the FB and myself are having to carry the load.” — The Commodore, February 18, 1971
——————–
“Outside this universe there is no time. There is only this huge movie we see creating itself more and more into the future. Since all of this movie is present outside the physical universe, a being can enter into any time period he wants if he has the level of awareness that allows him to do so. I was sent to this period of time as a new creation. The purpose was and is to raise the vibrations of the planet. This will, by itself, align this period of time and alter the future to make everything better. There were a million of me created from one of the Gods. They might be operating bodies on or off the planet. Most are Orbs that are directly connected to source so they are all around the planet raising the vibrations of the planet. I would say there is less than 10 of me operating bodies on this planet. The rest would be Orbs just observing and raising the vibrations.”
——————–
1998: A.r.s participants Gregg Hagglund and Scott McClare reported receiving phone calls from Scientology this week. First from Gregg: “Late yesterday (Feb. 17) I received a short phone call. ‘We know your secrets. How would you like to see thme posted on the Internet?’ I answered: ‘Go ahead.’ The caller (male) hung up. So, I invite OSA to post my secrets.” From Scott: “I received a long-distance phone call from an individual identifying himself as Mr. David Lee, a private investigator, who wished to ask me a few questions. When I asked who he represented, he said he was working on his own, although he later said he had been employed by the Church of Scientology in the past. The supposed Mr. Lee proceeded to ask me about my postings to a.r.s. I replied that to my knowledge I had not participated in the specific discussions he was asking about, since I had no opinion about the subject matter. Next, the alleged Mr. Lee asked me about the content of my Web page and what would prompt me to publish it. I explained to him that I was motivated by moral indignation, particularly over the following legal judgment, which I encouraged him to obtain and read. Mr. Lee: If indeed you are who you say you are, may I humbly request that the next time you attempt to investigate me, you please give me a few days’ notice? I have a number of friends who can’t believe a Church would employ private investigators to question its critics. It would be an unprecedented social event for my own church group, to say the least.”
——————–
“I was just ruminating that Manson probably got the idea for ‘creepy crawl’ from some Scientology experience.”
——————–
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.
——————–
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?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology staff scores with a new all-star: Pro dunker Connor Barth!
[TWO years ago] Love, Scientology style: How hard can it be to find a Clear date?
[THREE years ago] PODCAST: Mark Ebner joined Scientology for two weeks and we’re still recovering from it
[FOUR years ago] Clearwater deal: Scientology leader David Miscavige will finally get parcel he covets
[FIVE years ago] Scientologist and accused Ponzi schemer learns government has 13 MILLION documents on him
[SIX years ago] In Scientology’s Sea Org, the terror originates inside your own head
[SEVEN years ago] Is Beck divorcing Scientology along with his wife? Here’s the evidence for and against.
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology opened an ‘Ideal Org’ in Salt Lake City yesterday. We have its secret plans.
[NINE years ago] Augustine: Why is it so hard to find a Scientologist in good standing?
[TEN years ago] David Miscavige wastes no time once the stay is lifted in Monique Rathbun’s lawsuit
[ELEVEN years ago] TAMPA SHOWDOWN: Scientology’s religious exception faces mini-trial today
[TWELVE years ago] Going three feet back of your head: Scientology’s Original Operating Thetan Level Six!
[THIRTEEN years ago] Tom Cruise Under Oath: We Have His Deposition Questions!
——————–
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 3,543 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,047 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,553 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,103 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,093 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,479 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,974 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,278 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,929 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,147 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,701 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,042 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,613 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,529 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,696 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,278 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,537 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,289 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,854 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,169 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,344 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,026 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,363 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,216 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,332 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,694 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,105 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,493 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,377 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,941 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,453 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,713 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,817 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on February 18, 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)
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates.
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
