TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: In 2020 a former Scientology insider ran for elected office in Oregon, and we helped warn voters. Now that politically-ambitious former Sea Org exec has popped up in another part of the country, and is credited with drafting new legislation there! Yikes! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“A career in the humanities was not on schedule for me. My father, a naval officer, decreed that I would study engineering and mathematics and so I found myself obediently studying the physical sciences at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. A course called ‘Atomic and Molecular Phenomena’ had been instituted there. Today we call it Nuclear Physics. I was fortunate enough to be an early student of that subject in what I believe was the first course in nuclear physics formally taught in the United States. While at the university I adventured upon certain researches which were off curriculum. I wanted to find the smallest particle or unit of energy Man could contact. And, recalling Thompson’s teachings, decided to investigate the energy of the human mind.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1952
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“The guy for the last five years has been having trouble with his leg and he just sits in the auditing session with this hidden standard. He runs cows, crocs and alligators with great happiness. And at each moment after he runs the command, or every few commands, why, he kind of thetawise looks down at his leg, you see, to see whether or not that has been affected. “Well, alligators didn’t fit in that leg, so it must be something else,” you see? He’s running with his attention fixed on something else. And he broke his leg five or ten years ago and it has troubled him ever since. Well, you can assess that leg, and by the way, you can even assess it this way: His name, let us say, is John; you can assess ‘John’s leg,’ something of that sort. It’s always best to inspect the meter for a bit of reaction, but oddly enough, you don’t even have to, to do that. You just know this is a long-duration PI problem. The best way to do it is to make a list of terminals that the PC thinks it is. And then take a specific one, not take a general one. See, you don’t want this thing to be a profession. You don’t want it to be a profession, that’s all. Because he’ll run on it for quite a while if you take it as a general thing, see? ” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 1, 1961
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“Mr. Sibersky will be arriving aboard in a special motorcade. Any persons who wish to welcome him aboard on arrival are invited to be on hand, observing the following: 1) Dress Neatly, 2) To avoid a mob scene — crew and students should be on the dock lined up by Org (FB, FAO, FSO) and by course (for full-time students) (FEBC, CL X). The gangway, and all accesses to gangways should be kept clear except as noted in FSO 391. 3) Be on time. When exact ETA is known this will be made known by HCO Messenger so people can assemble ahead of time.” — W/O Mike Douglas, Org Off FSO, June 1, 1971
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“According to self proclaimed ‘Source Thetan’ Inelia Benz, this is a time to start creating the reality you wish to create for the planet. No longer a time to awaken the sleepers that don’t want to awaken. What are the postulates LRH did for this planet? He said this planet was going to be an OT base for the exit of this universe.”
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1995: Dennis Erlich reported new acts of harassment this week. JJ Gaw, Scientology investigator, visited his landlord, looking for dirt. Also, the company that holds the mortgage on Dennis’ house was hit for some documents, billed to the landlord. More random acts: “Two nights ago I noticed that the automatic lights in front of my house didn’t turn on when I approached. Checking the bulbs, I found them to have been screwed out 2 turns. Three weeks ago someone came by and sanded the street # off the curb in front of the house. No other houses on the block got this treatment.”
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“Scientology’s aesthetic muse is the Hallmark Channel filming on location in Branson, Missouri with some Space Opera whipping on top.”
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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 takes Manhattan with ‘biggest gala ever in the Big Apple’!
[TWO years ago] Scientology unbound: The grand jury indictments of L. Ron Hubbard 2.0
[THREE years ago] What it was like watching Danny Masterson get handcuffed in Judge Olmedo’s court
[FOUR years ago] Scientology co-opts ‘Top Gun’ success for its own fundraising needs
[FIVE years ago] Does Scientology know that it’s a Truman Show? Let us show you their newest magazine cover.
[SIX years ago] Boarded up and shut down, Scientology struggles to stay relevant in uncertain times
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology Lit: The verse stylings of L. Ron Hubbard, commodore of cool
[EIGHT years ago] When the famous war protester met Scientology: A spiritual encounter in Los Angeles
[NINE years ago] Remembering another Scientology ‘warrior’ — with the help of Mark Bunker
[TEN years ago] Now that Scientology has a TV and radio complex, will it air what Scientology really is?
[ELEVEN years ago] Listen to Jim Jones root for Scientology against Paulette Cooper in a 1978 Jonestown address
[TWELVE years ago] Sunday Funnies: Scientology’s latest attempts to get you amped up!
[THIRTEEN years ago] Here’s Some Photographic Proof that Scientology’s “Ideal Orgs” Are Killing the Church
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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 3,646 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,150 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,656 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,206 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,196 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,582 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,077 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,381 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,032 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,250 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,804 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,145 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,716 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,632 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,799 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,385 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,644 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,392 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,961 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,272 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,447 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,129 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,466 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,319 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,435 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,797 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,211 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,596 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,480 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,044 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,556 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,816 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,920 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 1, 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
