TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: On March 3 the public gets a chance to watch as the lawsuit filed by Danny Masterson’s victims has a crucial hearing. And on Thursday the court gave notice that it’s considering monetary sanctions on Boies Schiller partner John Kucera, who is representing the Jane Doe victims. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“An arbitrary is a false order or datum entered into a situation or group. It is 3rd dynamic aberration. An arbitrary is something entered without reason. For the tech on this I refer you to ‘Dianetics, Evolution of a Science.’ It is a fascinating subject, arbitraries. I found one time that people hadn’t read Problems of Work where confusion and the stable datum is first covered. When I got that text across, then why we had stable terminals become very plain. Stable data is the other side of the coin. An arbitrary could be said to be a false stable datum. Now if we can get arbitraries understood we will make some progress.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1980
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“This idea of somebody full-armed from the brow of Jove or something like that, coming down and helping man, and so on, that’s an old story. That isn’t even news. But somebody by his own bootstraps, even as you, pulling himself up through this thing, that is news. And whatever you have done and been on the Whole Track, or whatever I have done and been on the Whole Track, it still amounts to the fact that a guy just like you made this. And has made it, and also ‘physician heal thyself,’ has been broken all ways from the middle. Because it never happened before. That’s what’s news. I suppose my bank to a large degree’s been keyed out but over a period of time has been keying in harder and harder and harder and about knocked my head off, and I was working out technology by which you could get Clear, and I hadn’t had any auditing to amount to anything for a couple of years, actually. Mary Sue rolled up her sleeves and there we went and here we are. And this is a very satisfactory, well, I won’t say an end to the story, because the story is a long way from ended. But I will say it’s a very satisfactory denouement on the question, ‘Can one lift himself by his own bootstraps and beat all the laws of God and men in this whole universe from one corner to the other?’ And the answer, of course, is yes.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 21, 1963
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“The UKLO WW SH team, Phyll Stevens, Linda Parselle, Anne Tampion, Darlene Regenas and Margaret Hodkins are leaving today. They have worked hard and done very well. They graduated from the FEBC and attained Grade Clear OT. The Flag Bureaux has totally replanned SH spatially and have re-integrated the successful ’67 pattern. WW is now the UKLO Management Bureau. We wish them very well. The officers and crew have worked very hard completing the entirety of this very extensive project. Now it is up to them to put a UKLO and SH and SH Foundation there and bring SH back to its former glory. Good-bye, god bless, good luck. We wish you well. This is a major completion. A great one.” — The Commodore, February 21, 1971
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“I just wanted to say that I really enjoy the ‘Overheard in the Freezone’ daily feature. It is the first time I have seen thoughts similar to mine, thought processes and interests and realities of a ‘post-Scientology’ similar to mine in a very long time. And I feel at home for the first time in years, the first time since I left Scientology. Except that I could not trace those comments to their writers and comment back. I wish I could. Many of them are really interesting, and I’d like to get to know them and discuss ideas. Please keep the feature going, it is really interesting and worthwhile. It shows some very interesting perspectives that augment mine in a thrilling way, which is rare anywhere.”
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2001: Mark Bunker reported the results of a trial in St. Petersburg to determine whether Scientology or a number of critics should be found in contempt of court for violating a restraining order issued for the protests in Clearwater in December. “Neither Bob Minton nor Tory Christman were convicted today. Judge Penick acquitted all but two of the more than forty charges against Bob, the LMT and the rest of the critics. He fined Tory $100 but did not find her guilty for walking down Fort Harrison Avenue without holding her picket sign upside down. He withheld adjudication and fined Bob $500 for engaging in First Amendment activity outside of an orange zone. Bob is on probation for six months but was not convicted. The judge came down hard on Scientology’s spy cameras, abusive process servers/P.I.s, and the ’embarrassing’ testimony of OSA’s rebuttal witness. Judge Penick brought in the Clearwater Police’s attorney to let him know that the judge believed there was a great deal of merit to the claim that Scientology is ‘using’ and ‘duping’ the police they hire. Penick warned that the CW Police were dangerously close to becoming Scientology’s security force.”
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“Pleasure and pain are what motivates everyone on the most basic level. People do things because they make them feel good, whether it be dope or Scientology. Even after drug addiction becomes destructive, people keep doing it because it’s become their way of life and people fear change (and pain) more than anything.”
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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] Scientology’s floating cathedral is back in a big way, pilgrims!
[TWO years ago] Building a Scientology prison camp meant ducking for cover when planes flew by
[THREE years ago] Richard Belzer, and that time he got us in to see Tom Cruise roast Matt Lauer
[FOUR years ago] After a court restored the Danny Masterson suit, Scientology is apoplectic with rage
[FIVE years ago] Scientology social media: The world’s coolest religion is on fire!
[SIX years ago] Thanks to some Scientology OTs, you can now rent a cabin only a mile from Shelly Miscavige!
[SEVEN years ago] If you thought Scientology’s ‘Axioms’ were dumb, the ‘Logics’ are even dumberer
[EIGHT years ago] Hubbard’s ‘Brainwashing Manual’ — how a crude Scientology hoax became a far-right touchstone
[NINE years ago] As Scientology shrinks, its leader dreams up new ways to convince followers otherwise
[TEN years ago] When Scientology was in trouble in 1955, L. Ron Hubbard told prosecutor he was a ‘psychologist’
[ELEVEN years ago] When Scientology was pouring on the ‘religious’ angle very thick: A video mystery
[TWELVE years ago] Federal judge dismisses Georgia class-action lawsuit against Scientology and rehab network
[THIRTEEN years ago] Narconon Staff Certifications in Jeopardy After New Whistleblower Comes Forward
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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 3,546 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,050 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,556 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,106 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,096 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,482 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,977 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,281 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,932 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,150 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,704 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,045 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,616 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,532 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,699 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,281 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,540 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,292 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,857 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,172 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,347 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,029 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,366 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,219 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,335 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,697 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,108 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,496 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,380 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,944 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,456 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,716 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,820 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 21, 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
