TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Scientology may struggle to find new members, but leader David Miscavige continues to get huge donations out of his rich whales. The new Impact magazine has a spotlight on one young megadonor. At 27, Daniel Duggan is the youngest ‘Platinum Meritorious’ in Scientology history. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The clay demonstration must show that the student’s understanding of the materials being demonstrated is present. The clay shows the thing, not the labels or the imagination. If a student’s clay demonstration isn’t correctly done or doesn’t show what is to be demonstrated it must be flunked with reference to the material. In such case, the student must be referred to the correct Bulletin, Policy, Book or Tape reference from the materials of the course. Another student’s demo is never referred to or used as an example.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1981
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“Christ bore the burdens of all man and the world, didn’t he? So, if a person keeps on offending, offending, offending against the seventh dynamic, he will eventually offend so wrongly and so widely and broadly that his only solution to it is to wind up as Christ. This isn’t saying that’s the route that Christ went although some of the lost books of the Bible tell you how he spent his early youth using his powers to destroy those around him. You may not be aware of these early accounts. There’s one story, in these lost books of the Bible, about his blinding a playmate merely by telling him to go blind.” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 8, 1952
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“THE RUMOURS: The landing ships out in the harbour ‘briefed’ their men on how this ship was out of bounds as ‘full of draft dodgers, marijuana smokers, free love, hypnotism,’ said to have been briefed by their ‘upper echelon.’ We are sending Ensign Dunleavy and a boat out (the sea sled) to call on their senior captain to get it handled. Their men are upsetting the Greeks also. We’ll take care of it. Captains in the US Navy who ‘can’t handle their men’ (the one thing Admirals in the US go bonkers about) are seldom promoted any more. We hold all the aces. We’ll handle it on the lower echelon level and run it back to some psychiatrist they’ve got aboard, I’m sure. Poor old SMERSH.” — The Commodore, March 8, 1969
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“A few have said that they communicate with LRH telepathically, but none that I have found credible. I suspect that he did bypass a lot of charge and that he needs time to recover. I expect to meet him again one day but it might be a while.”
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2002: A Scientology flier is soliciting donations for expansion into India. “Last year, Scientology pioneers were invited to take part in one of the
largest religious celebrations in the province of Mysore, India. The invitation was initiated by a very influential religious leader who after having viewed the Orientation film and purchasing several Scientology books, wanted to have Scientology disseminated to his people in India. Referred to as ‘His Holiness,’ this religious leader influences over 10 million people in relation to their religious and secular lives. The result of this visit was nothing less than spectacular, with over 200,000 Indians introduced to Scientology and over 30,000 people toured through the LRH Life Exhibition. Through January and early February 2002, ‘His Holiness’ is hosting two religious events expected to draw half a million participants. We have again been invited to attend and introduce Scientology to his people. In attendance will be several other influential religious leaders from India, religious scholars, monks, officials, political representatives and hundreds of thousands of followers of Hinduism. In addition to seminars and lectures that Scientologists will be delivering, the LRH Life Exhibition will begin touring India on a permanent basis. Our Sea Org delegation, who will be traveling to India to attend this events, need lots of LRH materials to present to this religious leaders and hundreds of thousands of attendees. With your donations to this project, you will be directly helping to get people into Scientology at a faster rate than ever and expand Scientology’s reach in a country where we encounter no psychs or psych-drugs and where people are already on a higher spiritual plateau.”
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“I’d bet the farm that this isn’t the end of the battle for the mind of poor Suri. This was only round one. Things will get ugly, real ugly, further down the road.”
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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 wants to know, can you spare a dime for Ron’s new museum?
[TWO years ago] You’ve just been through Scientology’s Wall of Fire: It’s time to party!
[THREE years ago] Is this Scientology’s greatest fundraising flier ever? It’s ‘Mission Earth’ stupendous!
[FOUR years ago] Danny Masterson joins Scientology asking CA supremes to review ‘arbitration’ defeat
[FIVE years ago] SHELLY MISCAVIGE ON VIDEO: Never-before-seen footage from before her disappearance
[SIX years ago] Forcing Scientology ‘arbitration’ on rape victims would be US courts imposing religion
[SEVEN years ago] Can Scientology be tripped up by consumer protection? You must hear this pitch.
[EIGHT years ago] While in hiding, Scientology’s L. Ron Hubbard sent advice to newly elected Ronald Reagan
[NINE years ago] Danny Masterson: Victim C gets support from a veteran actress, but will LAPD answer the call?
[TEN years ago] BACK ON: Scientology ‘disconnection’ billboard OK’d by competitor after Outfront Media bails
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology really, really, really doesn’t want you to see this movie
[TWELVE years ago] Jon Atack: Why it takes so long to recover from Scientology
[THIRTEEN years ago] Scientology Targets Aussie Kindergartners, Swedish Grade Schoolers
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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 3,561 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,065 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,571 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,121 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,111 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,497 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,992 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,296 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,947 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,165 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,719 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,060 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,631 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,547 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,714 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,296 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,555 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,307 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,872 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,187 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,362 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,044 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,381 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,234 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,350 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,712 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,123 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,511 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,395 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,959 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,471 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,731 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,835 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 8, 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
