TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: For more than a year we’ve pointed out the wealthy Scientologists in positions of influence with the White House. And now that the administration is pushing one of Scientology’s favorite agendas, against antidepressants, we look at the alternative that the church offers. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“When a minister discovers that a pc has knowledge of an overt or crime against Scientology or against the codes of the Church but has not reported the matter to Ethics, this should be handled as a withhold and must be the subject of an ethics report. This applies both to HCO Confessionals and to any other session. OFFENCES AGAINST SCIENTOLOGY OR ITS CODES BY ANOTHER PERSON THAN THE PC, MUST BE REPORTED TO ETHICS FOR INVESTIGATION (EVEN IF ONLY SUSPECTED OR WHEN FULL FACTS ARE NOT KNOWN). This is important because persons who get off their own overts have a higher responsibility level than those who don’t and these last, who don’t get off their overts, are sometimes only detectable and handleable by the reports of others. The more serious the ethics offence, the more necessary and vital it is that such reports be made. Failure to make such a report can result in the pc (or staff member) being named as an accessory or at least being charged with condoning the offence.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1981
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“I saw a little fellow once, about 110 pounds, pick up a grand piano and shove it out of a burning house. He never pushed a barbell in his life. Of course, when he got out on the lawn; he wondered who brought the piano out. He just produced enough energy at that moment and overcame enough gravity and threw enough postulates out the window so that the piano would dematerialize in the living room, and rematerialize in the front lawn. And he says, ‘I wonder who brought that piano out?’ Now, if he had arduously trained himself so as to eat Wheaties, why, he would have, of course, left the piano right where it was.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 7, 1954
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“UK ENQUIRY: The ‘Findings’ of this enquiry have been handed over to Sir Joseph in House of Lords. This means very early publication. Past signs are that they will not be viciously unfavorable. We are busy working to handle any possible repercussion. It may be a week or so yet before they hit the UK press. This cycle is far from conclusive. We made a last minute breakthrough on the WHO that began all this and keeps busy hounding us. This breakthrough puts the initiative in our hands. Instead of trying to find out WHO has been hitting Scientology we now find we are moved right over, on target, of WHO is responsible for East-West upsets and the atomic war threats and the economic crises. Whetever the UK ‘enquiry’ says, the end of the war is well in view.” — The Commodore, May 7, 1971
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“You have to not know to have a game. We want a game. Knowing all is no game. You can convert a game into a no game by knowing, you can convert no game into a game by not knowing.”
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1998: Redbook magazine carries an article on Scientologist Kelly Preston this month. “She relied upon her belief in Scientology to change the direction of her otherwise conventional career path. Preston was introduced to it in 1985 by an acting coach, and when she met Travolta she was pleased to discover that he had been following Scientology since his early twenties. As their relationship grew, so did Preston’s adherence to Scientology. ‘In Scientology there’s something that’s called an Administration Scale. It’s actually what John did before he decided to do Pulp Fiction’ she explains. ‘It’s a step-by-step plan, pinpointing everything that you’re going to do in your career and how you’re going to do it. It’s not just wishing and hoping and praying. It makes you very much the cause of your life.'”
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“Hubbard just took ‘astral projection’ and redefined it as ‘exteriorization’.”
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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 snubbed by Denver suburb after TV news asked about ‘proclamation’
[TWO years ago] Here’s David Miscavige’s opposition to Jane Doe 1’s appeal of his sneaky legal maneuver
[THREE years ago] A Scientology childhood: Jon Atack talks to ‘Bad Cadet’ author Katherine Spallino
[FOUR years ago] You just dropped tens of thousands on Scientology: Could you be any more excited?
[FIVE years ago] The nanny task list from a Scientology couple that is driving Twitter insane
[SIX years ago] Tom Cruise in orbit: Why it makes sense for NASA to launch Scientology’s space cadet
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s cruise ship and kids: Raped on the Freewinds at 12
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology celeb Joy Villa takes down her ‘testing the waters’ for Congress web pages
[NINE years ago] Even in Mexico, Scientology bullies people with hired muscle — but for now strikes out
[TEN years ago] Scientology’s hypnotic suggestion: What’s true for you is what’s true for L. Ron Hubbard
[ELEVEN years ago] Guest post: 20 reasons the Church of Scientology is a cult and a fraud
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology’s plans for the KCET studios in Los Angeles finally taking shape?
[THIRTEEN years ago] OKLAHOMA GOVERNOR SIGNS LAW AIMED AT SCIENTOLOGY DRUG REHAB
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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 3,621 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,125 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,631 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,181 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,171 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,557 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,052 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,356 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,007 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,225 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,779 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,120 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,691 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,607 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,774 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,360 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,619 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,367 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,936 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,247 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,422 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,104 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,441 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,294 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,410 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,772 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,186 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,571 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,455 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,019 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,531 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,791 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,895 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 7, 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
