TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: What is one of the hottest players in the NFL doing with a Scientology front group whose mission is to destroy all drugs, even helpful prescription medications? We asked the Seattle Seahawks what’s going on, but Scientology must be celebrating at its latest sports victory. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“A case is started on straight line memory to recover data about incidents which may contain grief, as in deaths, or about engrams of physical pain, as in accidents, illnesses or operations. Actual and hearsay evidence may be recovered which the auditor can use in working the case. A written record of such possible engrams should be kept at hand while auditing. Remembered hearsay information, particularly from relatives, should be granted less validity than the recall of the patient and should never be permitted to invalidate the data of the patient.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“If you’ve had dreams of just going right straight through to Clear without ever being a Release, why, you might as well come off of it because — That’s all right, you and a lot of others will learn how to do Class VII before you’re through, so. It isn’t too hard to do. But that’s the easiest and safest way. And then you find out R6 materials, they just run like a bomb. My God! There’s nothing to it because you’re just right straight at it and everything as-ises like mad.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 29, 1965
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“A shark swam alongside today and said, ‘Who is it?’ and I said ‘Who is what?’ and he said, ‘Who is petitioning to leave out here in mid ocean?’ And I said ‘How’d you know that?’ And he said, ‘you’re not tearing up your despatches very good before you throw them over.’ He was real put out. Thought I was invalidating him by saying he couldn’t read. I ordered him to Review and get rid of the ARC Break but he hasn’t any priority — and anyway he’ll have to wait for our waterproof E-Meter. He’s out there now muttering. Do I get some Dianetic sessions today or do I put the shark on course?” — The Commodore, June 29, 1969
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“I see there is just no use in reasoning with you. I’m convinced you’re quite literally insane (as per LRH’s version). The one thing that I’ll leave here is that if we don’t at least try to reach for awareness through becoming more Theta and less entheta, we all become objects. You will become part of MEST as will I if I don’t at least try. Your stuckness will literally make you stuck in MEST. It’s funny Because you’re trying so desperately to control the world around you, and in the end the world around you and Thetans will end up controlling you. There is still time. Consider this the last time you have to make changes, because you know what I say is true if you believe in the whole time track. I feel sorry for you, sincerely.”
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1995: MTV this week aired a special news broadcast about cults, and included some discussion of Scientology. Stacy Young and Scientology PR person Leisa Goodman were interviewed. A transcript was posted to a.r.s, anonymously. Some excerpts: “Loder: But according to former Scientologists, members aren’t given the church’s full liturgy until after taking many expensive courses. Although Scientology executives deny it, former longtime members say that eventually followers are told that some of these ‘engrams’ are the remnants of space aliens called ‘body thetans’ who are placed there by the galactic overlord ‘Xenu.’ Stacy Young: It’s a very science-fiction world, um, it has a, galactic confederacy … it’s a very romantic … view of the world. Loder: I don’t understand, there’s like a galactic overlord Xenu… is there a whole staff of characters… or is that not true? Goodman: Ohh uhh… I don’t think … I don’t really know what you mean. What you’re talking about. Loder: At one point, eleven Scientologists, including Hubbard’s wife, were convicted of conspiracy and burglary, of IRS offices. Goodman: Actually the people who did that, were booted out of the church. It’s got _nothing_ to do with Scientology. And, um… Loder: In the end, the IRS granted Scientology the tax exempt religious status it wanted. A move IRS spokesman now decline to discuss.”
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“Tommy must shudder whenever he hears Leah’s name and he imagines what D.M. would be doing to him, if he could, considering his ‘you don’t have the fucking rank’ was a major catalyst in her defection.”
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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, oral arguments scheduled for June 25. 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. Now serving time in 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 June 19.
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. Oral arguments hearing set for July 23.
— 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 upheld on appeal. Scientology expected to file additional petitions before case can return to Kalra’s court.
— 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] Another ‘Ideal’ grand opening for Scientology! This time, a mission in LA County
[TWO years ago] Scientology and ‘dropping the body’: More reactions from our readers
[THREE years ago] Jane Doe 1 attorney asks for leaked evidence in Danny Masterson case, Scientology pushes back
[FOUR years ago] ‘Top Gun’ event brings Scientology huge donations from deliriously happy pilgrims
[FIVE years ago] Can someone let Tom Cruise know that his Scientology bandleader has died?
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s global virus playacting was supplied by giant California slave labor plant
[SEVEN years ago] David Miscavige’s pet projects result in constant fundraising pressure
[EIGHT years ago] In Scientology, going Clear is like leasing a car, and David Miscavige is Repo Man
[NINE years ago] HowdyCon: Aussie journalist Steve Cannane’s response to Marty Rathbun
[TEN years ago] Why Lisa Marie Presley’s custody battle likely has nothing to do with Scientology
[ELEVEN years ago] Augustine: Taking a hard look at Scientology’s slush fund, the unlicensed and unregulated IAS
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: The Nancy Cartwright freak-out edition
[THIRTEEN years ago] When Jon Atack Declared David Miscavige a Suppressive Person
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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 3,674 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,178 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,684 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,234 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,610 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,105 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,411 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,060 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,278 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,832 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,173 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,744 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,660 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,827 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,413 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,672 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,420 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,989 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,300 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,475 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,157 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,494 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,347 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,463 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,825 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,624 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,508 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,081 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,584 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,844 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,948 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 29, 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
