TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Although he left Scientology more than a decade ago, actor Jason Lee proved to be very touchy about it in a fabulous new profile of him by Nate Rogers for Defector. And that reminded us of our own encounter with him some 15 years ago. Why so sensitive, Jason? [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“When a person has been overrun, he is trying to stop the mass or thing he has gone back into. The other side to that is the time or times he was released from it. These are opposites: the “plus” of the mass and the “minus” of the time the mass wasn’t there. This idea of opposites tends to hang things up. The idea then behind handling an overrun is to unstabilize this plus-minus pair by getting the pc to clearly spot the ‘minus’ side of it. When this happens, the ‘plus’ side goes. When the pc’s attention is directed to the points when he was released from the mass he ceases to try and stop the mass and it goes. The release state then rehabilitates.
So the mechanism being worked with here is that the mass connected with an overrun can be knocked out by spotting the release connected with it. It is a very simple principle which has important uses in auditing.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1980
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“A man decides to smoke. He therefore becomes an identity known as a smoker. You’ve seen them in the ads. They look very placid. If they smoke cigarettes, they chase pretty girls. And if they smoke pipes they chase fireplaces. You know? And we’ve seen this. Whatever this identity was, he’s assumed this identity and then he gets married and his wife objects to his being a smoker; so now he has an opposition known as a wife. So he assumes a new identity which is ‘a dominating husband’ in order to handle the identity ‘wife.’ But now we have a new identity show up. We have something called the Ladies’ Aide Society, and his wife has joined that. And their combined forces are going to cause him to stop smoking. So now he has to become a wealthy self-determined individual. You see that? And the Ladies’ Aide Societies then get a bunch of quacks — members of the AMA — together and they say that if you smoke it produces cancer. They don’t know what produces cancer but they say that smoking does. They, you see that’s the ghost-shirt messianic thing. They have no solution to it, they can’t cure it so they pick on something and they say, ‘Well, everybody spits in the water so that’s what causes typhoid fever.’ They don’t know. You see? So now he has a counter-identity called the American Medical Association. You see? And that’s an identity. So, this fellow now in desperation to handle this situation becomes a political genius, you see. Because you have to be a political genius these days to handle the AMA. That’s the only place where they operate effectively. Don’t operate effectively in the operating room anymore, only in Congress. So here he is now a genius, you see, a political genius. Now, the political genius runs into an opposition party. So, you have an opposition party — the Democrats. You see, that’s the next oppterm. And that’s about the high tide of the whole thing.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 28, 1963
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“The Sea Org flotilla is close to a fleet now with six vessels all (except Flag) in excellent operating condition. Only Apollo is slightly unready, needing completions on safety work and Lloyds Survey, and a bit below standard in appearance and training. Her divisional officers all say they need more men but as other vessels improved on less crew than over. I think the opinion should be revised.” — The Commodore, February 28, 1969
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“Personally speaking I have no doubt whatsoever on the validity and precision of Original LRH Precepts and the practical reality of such states as Clear, Theta Clear, Cleared Theta Clear, Native State and OT per definition, having seen them demonstrated in session and practical life by people I have known and worked with.”
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2001: Jeff Jacobsen spoke to the Clearwater city commission this week concerning the off-duty officers hired by Scientology. “For over a year now every day 2 uniformed off-duty police sit on Watterson Street next to the Scientology Bank building on Cleveland Street. They are there from 11am to 8pm 7 days per week, paid by Scientology. They do essentially nothing but sit in lawn chairs provided by Scientology. In a January 21, 1983 article in the Clearwater Times, a survey of Clearwater citizens showed that ‘eight out of 10 adult residents think the Church of Scientology is a problem.’ In 1995 Paul Maser of the Clearwater Police Department wrote an affidavit where the city was suing Scientology. He wrote about Scientology that ‘harassment and intimidation is authorized by the Church under the Fair Game Law, as dictated by L. Ron Hubbard founder of the Church of Scientology.’ The City of Clearwater knows about Scientology. They know Scientology’s
history. And yet now I see the city officials kowtowing to Scientology. Antonio the Scientology security staffer sits all day with these 2 uniformed officers, sitting on Scientology chairs eating Scientology food enjoying Scientology company and doing essentially nothing for Scientology money. Scientologists who may think of leaving Scientology may think twice when they see city police are in the pockets of Scientology. Scientologists are no doubt told that the police are there because of the dangerous people just down the street at the Lisa McPherson Trust and they are there for Scientologists’ protection. Judge Thomas Penick in St. Petersburg ruled on February 21 of this year that the Clearwater police are ‘coming very dangerously close to being a private security force for the Church of Scientology.’ I urge the city commission to look into this matter. What has changed in Scientology’s behavior that city officials no longer view Scientology as dangerous?”
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“Who would have thunk back in the 90s that Tom Cruise and ‘batshit crazy’ would become synonymous thanks to a bunch of juvenile delinquents calling themselves ‘Anonymous.’ Thank Xenu I lived long enough to see it.”
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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 March 9.
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, which is now fully briefed. Awaiting the setting of an oral arguments hearing.
— 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. Oral arguments hearing on March 3.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration. 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 is crowing about a Senate resolution it’s helping to goose along
[TWO years ago] Heber Jentzsch is 88, but Scientology still makes this surprising claim about him
[THREE years ago] Scientology: SCOTUS ruling says judge can’t rule on duress in trafficking lawsuit
[FOUR years ago] And now a word from Scientology’s very own church ladies — Valley chapter
[FIVE years ago] Scientology social media: Things really couldn’t be better in Miscavigeland
[SIX years ago] What do billion-year-contracted Scientology Sea Org workers do all day?
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s founder L. Ron Hubbard on the ‘God trick,’ Christ implants, and Muslims
[EIGHT years ago] Scientologist ‘Dapper CEO’ Vick Tipnes wins victory against discrimination lawsuit in Tampa
[NINE years ago] The most Scientology-involved movie ever made? Here comes Nancy’s baby!
[TEN years ago] Erika Christensen goes psychbuster as we launch Rod Keller’s Scientology Social Media Review!
[ELEVEN years ago] LEAK: Scientology celebrities are stepping up their involvement behind the scenes
[TWELVE years ago] AOLA’s grand re-opening — a look at the last time Scientology cut the ribbon at Big Blue!
[THIRTEEN years ago] Blogging Dianetics, Part 9: Hubbard and Perversion!
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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 3,553 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,057 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,563 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,113 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,103 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,489 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,984 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,288 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,939 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,157 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,711 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,052 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,623 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,539 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,706 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,288 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,547 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,299 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,864 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,179 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,354 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,036 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,373 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,226 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,342 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,704 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,115 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,503 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,387 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,951 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,463 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,723 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,827 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 28, 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
