TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Some images and videos have begun popping up on social media after yesterday’s grand opening of Scientology’s new ‘Ideal Org’ in San Juan, Puerto Rico. And yes, church leader David Miscavige did make the scene, as we expected! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Factually, the world has gotten itself a lot of new violence potential without also getting a campaign for higher morality. Such an imbalance is catastrophic. The police, banks, merchants, insurance people are all in real trouble through the decline of morality. The Kentucky school board, right now, is faced with no morals being taught in their schools. They already have a crime problem if their schools are like anyone else’s. Materialism and mechanism (these are philosophic schools) are on a rampage. The biologists, psychs, evolutionists are pushing them to the limit. These are blown up by the simple question, «Your data may be quite correct but you have no proof that there is not something else that uses all this.» Their position is untenable philosophically. So, using this, the psychs and biologists and so on are edging the churches out and factually are creating a dangerous social situation. At a time when man can wield unlimited force, he has no moral codes or restraints. There factually is no moral code today. The Christian one was nice. But if you read the Ten Commandments, they are designed for people several thousand years ago.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1980
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“The reactive bank is a thing. It’s got sort of mushy looking electronic masses and it’s got pictures and locks and other things associated with this, it is a thing. Well, the physical universe and the remaining dynamics, of course, are themselves a thing. And that’s what we mean when we say our universe and the other fellow’s universe and everybody’s universe. There were three universes, if you can remember rightly. Well, that apparently is very true, there are apparently three universes, but we were speaking of the reactive bank as meaning one of those universes where, as a matter of fact, that’s a little bit of a curve in the line. It turns out that there was his universe, you know, his brick walls, and we’re not sure right now whether or not they’re his brick walls and everybody’s brick walls or only his brick walls, or exactly what’s the status of these brick walls, because we’re right up a bunch, right up against the ability to disintegrate matter, all these various phenomena that — a yogi has been known as a good yogi if he could, you know, something or other, if he could levitate, you know, you’ve heard all these tricks and nonsense pieces and that sort of thing. Kid game stuff. This is the level you’re looking at. You see?” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 23, 1965
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“RECRUITS: We appreciate all the new recruits. You are very valuable to us. It permits older hands to move up. In your turn if you do a good job, you will also be moving up in your time. You are expected to do the job assigned well and raise its stats. You are expected to complete your AB, SS I, SS II and Mission School during your study time, which should be about 2.5 hours a day during one or another of your study periods.” — The Commodore, February 23, 1971
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“I may wind up doing OT 9 in Reno with Rey Robles. I haven’t decided yet. Also, keep in mind that in Marty Rathbun’s 1st book, he recommended that any OT 7 who wants to do more can, on their own, discover for themselves new levels of awareness.”
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1996: Peter Lucey reported this week concerning the Jive Aces, a bar band preaching cult propaganda at gigs in the U.K. “I was in the ‘Bier Keller’, a bar under the Coppid Beach Hotel, Bracknell, UK on Friday, 16th Feb and the band booked was called the ‘Jive Aces’. [T]hey were ‘sponsored’ by Dianetics and there was much more ‘buy Dianetics’ adverts on the flyers than band info. Scientology was not mentioned but the band’s booking address was Saint Hill Manor, East Grinstead. I talked to the leader – he described Jon Atack as a ‘w*nker’ and said he was expelled from the CoS for drug dealing; my retort, that the ‘unconvicted drug dealing’ was a confession taken from his PC-folders after he left, fell on stony ground.”
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“‘Ness is More.’ It’s Hubbard’s version of his favorite book ‘1984.‘ Reduce the language down to its most base level and you can control what people think and it also separates them from the rest of society. Hubbard was already fairly knowledgeable about mind control techniques and hypnotism before he wrote Dianetics, so I don’t know why anyone would think his specific control techniques were by accident.”
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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] Cecilia Kruchko-Smith, 1952-2025, former Scientology employee, beloved Bunkerite
[TWO years ago] Shelly Miscavige: More about the place where she registered to vote, but is she still there?
[THREE years ago] REPORT: Scientology loses captain of its Florida ‘spiritual mecca,’ a fundraising marvel
[FOUR years ago] Shekter: A trial by storm for Scientology’s most dedicated still resonates today
[FIVE years ago] Gary Beeny, 1949-2020: Scientology figure in notorious takeover of anti-cult group
[SIX years ago] Judge rejects Roger Stone’s motion to step down from case for praising juror ‘integrity’
[SEVEN years ago] Leah Remini pays for vexing Tom Cruise with Scientology’s ‘Truth Rundown’
[EIGHT years ago] Laura DeCrescenzo fires back at Scientology’s desperate new federal court gambit
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s Celebrity Whisperer: An inside account of life in the fame-obsessed church
[TEN years ago] Scientology tried to suppress this video, and that’s why you’re seeing it here today
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology Australia spills its guts, and you can thank Bryan Seymour and Nick Xenophon
[TWELVE years ago] Five things to watch for in today’s first Scientology wedding in the UK
[THIRTEEN years ago] Scientology Mythbusting with Jon Atack: Fair Game!
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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 3,548 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,052 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,558 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,108 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,098 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,484 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,979 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,283 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,934 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,152 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,706 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,047 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,618 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,534 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,701 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,283 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,542 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,294 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,859 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,174 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,349 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,031 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,368 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,221 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,337 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,699 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,110 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,498 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,382 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,946 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,458 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,718 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,822 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 23, 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
