TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The New York Post published a fascinating expose of Joanna Vargas, a famous facialist to the stars accused of subjecting workers to Scientology, but the piece didn’t consult experts about those practices. So we turned to one for some additional help about what’s going on. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Hammering the same point over and over doesn’t ever find the CAUSE of a repeating error. (And there shouldn’t even be a first error if he did his course or post hat properly.) In practice, in the case of a suddenly slowed rate of study or in the case of a sudden rash of overt products, one looks just before the change occurred and handles what is found there. Sometimes it’s necessary to carry it earlier to get the real cause of the trouble found and handled. When HE’s found (not when YOU’ve found) what is out you’ll have all the VGIs you could ask for and the error will not repeat.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1981
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“Well now look, Mary Sue has been working very, very hard to make an OT out of me and been working at it and working at it and she didn’t make the grade. I wanted to get OT today so I could give you some nice weather. And I just didn’t make it, I’m sorry. I only got thirteen banks back and got stuck, you know.” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 20, 1963
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“PARTY: Barry, Cathy and Liz did a good job on the party. Decorations were by the Middies, Claire, Terri, Suzette, Ann and Janis. Barry gave out dancing prizes. For such courage above and beyond the line of duty, he was himself decorated. Well done to Div VI.” — The Commodore, April 20, 1970
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“We no longer need to address the problems in life via time and energy. We now have a thetan who no longer requires a via to give birth to a positive postulate; one moves forward simply postulating anew. A Scientological being is no longer part of the common denominator of existence: to survive. A higher harmonic, a higher level of ‘survive’ is to live in postulates. He is immortal and he knows it. If there is any time it is simply now. Now is when a true theta being exists continually. If one wants to change a current mockup, all one does is postulate the new mockup. We no longer need to look back into the past to resolve an unwanted condition.”
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1995: “Jeff Jacobsen posted a fascinating report card from George Washington University. It shows that Hubbard failed just about everything but physical education. I think this should be kept handy as a standard counter to the claims that he was well-educated.”
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“Human nature isn’t that complex. If you strip away the unnatural veneer of civilization, what are you left with? Spend some time on the street and tell me human nature is complex. Human egotism is infinite is more like 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 targets clients of Marc and Claire Headley in another Fair Game scheme
[TWO years ago] Is Leah Remini’s advocacy against Scientology keeping her from an honor she deserves?
[THREE years ago] Jury selection in the Danny Masterson retrial: Today, the attorneys take over
[FOUR years ago] Scientology knows it can get your cash with a Great Gatsby party, New Yorkers!
[FIVE years ago] Scientology is always coming up with sneaky new ways to snag actors and other artists
[SIX years ago] Tom Cruise on InTouch cover: Another completely oversold Scientology clip job
[SEVEN years ago] Bull baiting and so much worse: Margery Wakefield on surviving Scientology
[EIGHT years ago] Joy Villa’s Scientologist husband shamed into dropping elephant skin bags from luxury line
[NINE years ago] As Clearwater votes, here’s a reminder of how L. Ron Hubbard had Scientology invade Florida
[TEN years ago] Disconnection, Miscavige style: How Scientology’s most powerful family came apart
[ELEVEN years ago] See the message a Scientologist sends to disconnect from a best friend, forever
[TWELVE years ago] Easter Sunday Funnies: David Miscavige has risen, & Scientology has more money than ever!
[THIRTEEN years ago] African Queen: The Man L. Ron Hubbard Thought He Was
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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 3,604 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,108 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,614 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,164 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,154 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,540 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,035 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,339 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,990 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,208 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,762 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,103 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,674 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,590 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,757 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,343 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,602 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,350 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,919 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,230 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,405 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,087 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,424 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,277 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,393 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,755 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,169 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,554 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,438 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,002 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,514 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,774 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,878 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 20, 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.
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Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
