TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We keep an eye on the wealthy donors Scientology fetes each autumn in England. But leader David Miscavige held an additional ‘Patrons Ball’ in LA for the New Year’s Event, and a new issue of Impact magazine also lists other new donors. What a bonanza of rich space cadets! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The term ‘OUT TECH’ means that Scientology is not being applied or is not being correctly applied. When Tech is IN we mean that Scientology is being applied and is being correctly applied. By TECH is meant technology, referring of course to the application of the precise scientific drills and processes of Scientology. Technology means the methods of application of an art or science as opposed to mere knowledge of the science or art itself. One could know all about the theory of motor cars and the science of building them and the art of designing them and still not be able to build, plan or drive one. The practices of building, planning or driving a motor car are quite distinct from the theory, science and art of motor cars. An auditor is not just a Scientologist. He or she is one who can apply it. Thus the technology of Scientology is its actual application to oneself, a preclear or the situations one encounters in life.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1981
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“There’s a population explosion going on and I wish to Christ somebody would inform me how men are far scarcer in l972 than I ever found them in 325 B.C. How could they expend them back then? I remember around the turn of the millennia and so on, there were just mobs unemployed. Well, right now they keep them all that way with relief and dough and this and that and the other thing, and they’ve got some workable scheme or another. One of the silly ones which you hear, we did a survey, we did a survey on people, what they liked and so on, just a general survey in the Scandinavian area, and we found what they liked best was welfare and what they hated most was taxes. Oh, brother. Outpoint to end all outpoints.” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 5, 1972
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“INCOME: As Income at Flag in actual money not just credit is creeping steadily up, I think we should get alert to fully establishing org form and appearances of all three orgs especially the FSO. A mission just concluded shows the FSO in need of improvement in form and appearance, both of ship and FSO members. The basic and reasonable recommendation is that an LRH Comm FSO be appointed so that LRH orders and projects will get compliance by the senior officers as these orders and projects have built what was there. With rising Flag income potential, real meaning is given to this recommendation.” — The Commodore, March 5, 1971
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“We are still in kindergarten. The US government doesn’t believe in theta traps and we have no OTs so far. It is a work in progress. The ‘Free Being’ OTs of the 50s all collapsed within months without any aid from the US government. LRH observed that instant OTs collapsed rapidly and thus the decision to educate. It is a far longer path than he envisioned and it was only near the end of his life that he realized that it was much longer and even then he underestimated the work involved.”
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1999: Kristi Wachter posted a protest report from Campbell, California “Date: Thursday, February 25, 1999. Start and End Times: 12:45 – 2:20 pm.
Location: Campbell, CA. Picketers: Kristi Wachter, Brent Stone, Don NOTs, Keith Henson. Just in time for Thursday 2 pm stats, we put in a picket at the new location of the ‘Los Gatos’ org. (Note that this is an org, not a mission. The large, busy San Jose location on Rosemary is a mere mission.) The ‘Los Gatos’ org moved out of Los Gatos and is now in Campbell, CA. As usual, they have not changed the name of the org, even though it’s now well outside of Los Gatos. The org occupies a good chunk of the first floor of a two-story office building. I arrived first, so I spent a few minutes by myself, waving at all the cars and busses and people across the street waiting for the bus. Nice Mark came out and took a picture, and I got a hurried one of him. I noted that he, too, has an Olympus digital camera. We saw two police vehicles drive past our picket and turn into the org’s parking lot. As it turns out, Keith was apparently driving a bit too fast in their parking lot, or something. The police went inside the org and talked with the Scientologists (most notably Nice Mark) for AGES. We picketed and watched the police talking with Mark and picketed and chatted and picketed some more. After many, many minutes, the police came out to talk with us. At one point, one of the policemen asked me whether I had a car parked in the org’s lot (I said I didn’t), and asked me to ask Brent and Keith whether they had parked in the org’s lot. I went over and asked them, and both said no. I reported this to the officers, who then came over and talked to Keith.”
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“Seeing as how Scientology is the only ‘religion’ that doesn’t have theologians, there’s no worry about theological inconsistency. As far as plot-holes in the story go, the one thing that keeps them in is this steadfast assertion that they have observed auditing and the rest of the tech to actually work. If they can’t get past this and realize they have been tricking themselves, then at best they’ll be indies/FZ for the rest of their lives.”
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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] What Trump and Elon are actually going to find locked up in Fort Knox
[TWO years ago] The most ideal part of Scientology’s new Ideal Orgs? They’re ready for Ron’s return!
[THREE years ago] Remembering Dan Sherman, Scientology’s bad biographer and worse speechwriter
[FOUR years ago] Scientology is trying extra hard to get you to fork over more money, you pesky thetan!
[FIVE years ago] Danny Masterson: They called me an ‘agent’ of Scientology, so I get to sit in on arbitration
[SIX years ago] Naturally, shady Scientology operators are drawn to the gold rush of stem cell therapy
[SEVEN years ago] What’s creepier than a Scientology street fair? Apparently, not much.
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology turning to focus groups in anticipation of its TV ‘network’ premiering
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s Narconon rehabs haven’t changed in the least, even after dozens of lawsuits
[TEN years ago] Outfront Media rescinds contract for Scientology ‘disconnection’ billboard in Hollywood
[ELEVEN years ago] ‘Will Smith is not a Scientologist’ — we elaborate on our quote the press went wild for yesterday
[TWELVE years ago] Larry Anderson: Scientology’s pitchman becomes a Bunker regular
[THIRTEEN years ago] Today, You Begin Your Training as a Scientologist
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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 3,558 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,062 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,568 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,118 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,108 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,494 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,989 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,293 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,944 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,162 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,716 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,057 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,628 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,544 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,711 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,293 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,552 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,304 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,869 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,184 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,359 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,041 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,378 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,231 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,347 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,709 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,120 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,508 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,392 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,956 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,468 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,728 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,832 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 5, 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
