TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Yesterday we told you the breaking news, that an appeals court upheld a ruling that denied Scientology’s attempt to gut the lawsuit filed by Danny Masterson’s victims. Now, here’s the full 64-page opinion for you to see this almost total win for the Jane Does. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“It’s true on cases and cases of research on criminals. And what’s it all go back to? The psychs! Their brutality and heartlessness is renowned. The data is rolling in. Any more you pick up off a criminal or anyone, send it in. On crime we have an epidemic running on this planet. The wrong causes psychs assign for crime plus their own ‘treatments’ make them a deadly virus. The psychs should not be let to get away with «treatment» which amounts to criminal acts, mayhem and murder. They are not above the law. In fact there are no lairs at all which protect them for what sane society would sanction crime against its citizens even as science? They should be handled like any other criminals. They are at best dramatizing psychotics and dangerous, but more dangerous to society at large than the psychotics they keep in their offices and looney bins because they lie and are treacherous. Why the government funds them I do not know. They are the last ones that should be let loose to handle children.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1982
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“It’s my belief that in a good society every child ought to be equipped with and taught to fire a sawed-off shotgun.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 20, 1952
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“BIG LEAGUE: A lot of SO people do not realize that we play in the Big League. It’s not from choice. We are apparently considered a prime threat to those who run things from behind the scenes. A new estimate based on new data of the money spent to knock us out is at least 20 million pounds. Your concept of security and concept of snap and pop on operations and actions should be scaled upward to match the Big League. We are so tiny in numbers we have to make up for it in brilliance and efficiency. No other group on the planet gets the simultaneous international attention that we do. We cave in the pressure against us by highly effective operation of orgs and ships. And it is gradually giving ground. We will win in 3 years IF we play it with Security, brilliance and efficiency on all our parts.” — The Commodore, May 20, 1970
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“Scientology is, of course, a body of data. It gives theory and application so one can cause a betterment through auditing and other methods. Scientology is not the cognitions of PCs and OTs. While the wins of PCs and OTs may give a stat for the org, Scientology belongs to L. Ron Hubbard, and the cognitions belong to those who had them.”
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1997: Attorney Ford Greene held a live interview on the net with OMNI publishing, in which he discussed cults. “The reason I became an attorney was because I had a firsthand awareness based on my being indoctrinated by the Moonies that cults are institutionalized systems of evil. Therefore, I felt compelled as a human being to proactively do what I could to bring sunlight on such evil. I was particularly horrified by the fact that this evil was being perpetrated in the name of God and under cover of the Constitutional protections given to freedom of religion. My theory is this: In order to exercise an intelligent and informed and voluntary consent, an individual always needs at least two things. He needs the raw brainpower to accurately evaluate information. The other thing he needs is sufficient, accurate information to consider. When both are not present at the same time, the result is not a constitutionally effective consent. Cult groups engage in deceptive recruitment practices. When the individual’s capacity to think is high, the cult fails to disclose its true nature, intentions and plans for the individual. Cults mislead the individual by manipulating his need for trust, warmth, belonging, and security to be the agent of his own undoing.”
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“If you want some major lulz, google ‘David Icke forum Scientology’ and get ready to read the 12-foot shape-shifting reptilian fanboys make fun of the immortal super powered Thetans. it’s a hoot.”
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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’s deification of founder L. Ron Hubbard: More holy sites opening soon
[TWO years ago] New Scientology memoir out today: For years he led its rabid anti-psychiatry angle
[THREE years ago] Here’s our story about Nancy Cartwright that Scientology doesn’t want you to see
[FOUR years ago] VIDEO: This is peak Scientology, when its big donors were going to clear the planet
[FIVE years ago] Day three of the Danny Masterson prelim: Jane Doe 3’s cross-examination continues
[SIX years ago] Leah Remini to Jane Doe after dismissing suit against Scientology: ‘You let no one down’
[SEVEN years ago] A paradox of apathy and zealotry: What props up Scientology, from within and without
[EIGHT years ago] Russia’s ineffective Scientology crackdown includes smearing foreign leaders
[NINE years ago] Scientology forks over phone numbers to federal judge, who puts his foot down again
[TEN years ago] Scientology gets judge disqualified in forced-abortion lawsuit and wants recent order voided
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology’s wealthy donors play royalty in Italy while Paulette Cooper takes San Diego
[TWELVE years ago] Marc Headley returns to Scientology and finds a whole new ballgame
[THIRTEEN years ago] Your Hot Scientology Event in Los Angeles Tonight
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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 3,634 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,138 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,644 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,194 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,184 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,570 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,065 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,369 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,020 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,238 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,792 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,133 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,704 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,620 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,787 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,373 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,632 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,380 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,949 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,260 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,435 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,117 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,454 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,307 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,423 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,785 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,199 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,584 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,468 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,032 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,544 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,804 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,908 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 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.
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
