TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Ever since we posted a photo of Tom Cruise and John Travolta giving David Miscavige a standing ovation as the Scientology leader unveiled a new initiative aimed at kids, we’ve been curious about what’s in these new books. Now we have a peek inside for you. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The analytical mind functions best out at the last possible notch of self-determinism. The unaberrated individual is not only strong but he is also motivated by a
uniformly present desire to accomplish the greatest amount of construction for the smallest amount of destruction. Self-determined, he is free to evaluate the situation for himself. Exteriorly determined by his own or social aberrations, he is inclined away from solutions which will be creative of the greatest good; further his own thinking is less acute. That the analytical mind can be usurped in its abilities by engrams and reduced mechanically in its power by those engrams definitely does not mean that the analytical mind and the ability of Man depends upon neurosis.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“Dianetics has probably got more history per square inch connected with it than any other activity that’s ever occurred on this planet. The planet has really never recovered from the impact. That’s the truth of the matter. Along about ’51 or something like that I stopped shoving Dianetics as such, you see, why it sort of left the missing step at the bottom of the steps, you know, sort of feeling. It gives very definite, if somewhat superficial, clues to human behavior. I say somewhat superficially —it’s hilarious, you know, sometimes, somebody trying to find his aberrations in this lifetime. This poor bloke that just went on a mad jihad or amok —that’s the word. The Malays go amok. And we had an American university boy go amok the other day and got up in the tower of the University of Texas and slaughtered a lot of people with rifles and that sort of thing. It was interesting to me that he’d just been to see a psychiatrist. Told the psychiatrist all about it, that he had impulses to do it and so forth. And the psychiatrist said, ‘Good boy.’ And the fellow didn’t turn up for his next appointment. The psychiatrist never much bothered about it and then he went out and killed about 39 people or, I don’t know what the figure was, 14 or something like that. But it was interesting to me just as a little side comment, that if you read carefully into such cases — movie star commits suicide — just been to see a psychiatrist.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 4, 1966
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“Since Lisbon our rudder has not reached its extreme swing. It gave trouble after the auto pilot was connected. When we disconnected the auto pilot the helm would not turn completely. It has only been partially corrected. As it is limited the ship does not steer well and three times has gotten us near real trouble. This is a dangerous situation.” — The Commodore, August 4, 1969
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“What I find interesting is how critics focus on small details of Ron’s life and try and discredit him with ‘lies’ about them. I don’t care if he went to a particular university or not. These are teeny, unimportant details compared to the unbelievably inhuman ability to put together a whole body of workable tech that is mindblowing.”
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1996: Paulette Cooper reported this week on the death of Bob Kaufman, author of ‘Inside Scientology,’ at age 63. “Bob was the first person courageous enough to reveal the upper level materials. For this, he was terribly harassed and his dreams of a concert piano career shattered. When he gave a recital at Little Carnegie Hall more than 20 years ago, the Scientologists found out in advance and called the ticket taker and told them to tell people he was ill and the concert was canceled. Almost everyone was turned away, and as Bob looked out at an almost empty audience, and realized what must have happened, he lost it and his fury crept into his music. Later, the Times review would complain that he played as if he was angry. He was also an extraordinary friend to many anti-Scientologists, including myself, Monica, Nan McClean, Jon Atack, Roy Wallis (when he was alive), Margie Wakefield, and others. I would download whatever humor I could find from a.r.s. and the web pages, and I would sing often these songs to him, or read him the funny anti-Scientology posts that you all wrote. And that’s how several of you really cheered him terrifically during his many surgical procedures, hospitalizations, setbacks, and chemo. So thank you all for him. He really loved it.”
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“He needs to do a comeback flick, something full of pathos that will tug at people’s heartstrings like ‘Fresh Prince: Down and Out In Bel Air’.”
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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] NAACP to hold fundraising blowout at Scientology’s most holy site
[TWO years ago] Why a troubled VP bid has us recalling a bizarre 1980 Scientology extortion attempt
[THREE years ago] While Miscavige spends millions on new buildings, Scientology withers elsewhere
[FOUR years ago] Danny Masterson delay attempt: Shawn Holley busy with Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer case
[FIVE years ago] Danny Masterson delays motion to dismiss, and other recent mysteries for Scientology celeb
[SIX years ago] Leah Remini podcast: The ‘Scientology and the Aftermath’ episode that never aired
[SEVEN years ago] Scientologist-led anti-vaxx ‘Conscience Coalition’ is off to a humble start
[EIGHT years ago] Ron Miscavige: ‘When I look back, it reminds me of stories I heard of the Stasi in East Germany’
[NINE years ago] Almost four years after its grand opening, a new look inside Scientology’s ‘Super Power’
[TEN years ago] Nancy Cartwright’s ‘defense’ of Scientology is the saddest thing ever
[ELEVEN years ago] London! And a member of government asks us, what can we do about Scientology?
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology’s newest testimonials video is everything you want it to be
[THIRTEEN years ago] Sunday Funnies: Scientology Puts the Fun in Fundraising!
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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 3,710 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,214 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,720 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,270 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,646 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,141 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,447 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,096 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,314 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,868 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,209 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,780 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,696 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,863 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,449 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,708 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,456 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,025 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,336 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,511 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,193 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,530 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,383 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,499 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,861 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,660 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,544 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,119 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,620 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,880 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,984 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 4, 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
