TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: When Scientology posted photos of its Aug 1 ground-breaking for future L. Ron Hubbard hall, we saw tell-tale signs that someone had been photoshopped out. Now, Alex Barnes-Ross has evidence that the missing figure was none other than Tom Cruise. But why hide him? [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Those engaged in dianetic processes are often interested in the effect of Dianetics upon religion. They generally desire to know whether dianetic processing will
influence faith or atheism. Dianetics is a science; as such, it has no opinion about religion, for sciences are based on natural laws, not on opinions. Self-determinism is always to some degree circumscribed by the environment of the individuate and the forces he faces. An individual without faith in something is lost and goalless. Faith is a necessary part of man. If that faith is given to a religion it can be observed that once given, it is steadfast and predictable.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“The results with psychotics at the present time are pretty fair. Of course, psychotics are definitely in the hands of psychiatry — they are actually wards of the state — and we are trying very hard to keep those psychotics in the hands of psychiatry where they belong. After all, psychiatry is organized to handle that problem. Psychiatrists have been open-minded about Dianetics for quite a while, but recently I was over at the state institution in St. Louis and the chief of the institution was running a young lady. I pitched in and gave him a hand. She had been schizophrenic for a number of years and she lay down on the couch insane; we worked on her for about two hours, hit the key engram in the case and she got off the couch sane. So the psychiatrists are no longer open-minded at Missouri State.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 10, 1950
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“I don’t think anyone believed the FAO had delivered that many training and processing hours in the last few months. Over 147,600 hours of training and over 12,000 hours of Class X auditing! On FEBCs alone. 91 fired to the US. 31 to other areas. This pgm is only a few months old. Astonishing stats! We work.” — The Commodore, August 10, 1971
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“Personally I always thought that Mary Sue should have thrown the three stooges Jane, Mo, and Mike under the bus and denied any knowledge of their actions. This would have saved us from the CMOI Junta that followed, but as anyone there knows there was so much confusion being generated at that time aside from Smersh and rogue Government Agencies including the ‘White Elephant’ no one on the Hill talked about until the Church Committee was an effort to go after Ron’s estate launched by Flynn and Assoc. with St. Gerry of Armstrong (another mole who told the LAPD’s CID ‘all ya gotta do is allege’) leading the charge being assisted by Ron’s estranged son who was a poster child for MK-Ultra Mind Control. As far as I’m concerned one of the key reasons Miscavige is where he is (aside from him being supported by rogue factions of ‘our’ Government and Smersh) is that he has become a fixed aberrated stable datum. In other words a walking, talking Ser Fac who has become a stable datum to anyone who can’t confront the prior confusion. That is my opinion and is the reason why I never bought into the ‘lone Miscavige theory’.”
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1995: Jeff Jacobsen reported on the status of the Snow White criminals in Scientology. Contrary to claims that they have all left the church: “Then how come Duke Snider is listed in Source issue 91 as completing the Flag Executive Briefing Course? Why is Henning Heldt listed in Source issue 60 as completing level B of the St. Hill Briefing Course and in Source issue 67 as completing New OTV?”
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“People spend years, decades, stuck on OT 7. It drives them insane, like George Baillie or poor Biggi Reichert.”
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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] TX Lawyer looks at the Jane Does’ response in Danny Masterson civil case
[TWO years ago] French and English voices decry Tom Cruise stunt planned for Olympics
[THREE years ago] Leah Remini’s lawsuit: Why Scientology will always smear and stalk its ‘enemies’
[FOUR years ago] Special series starting today: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[FIVE years ago] Judge in Danny Masterson case quashes ‘fishing expedition’ done for Scientology’s benefit
[SIX years ago] The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 24: Rebecca Dobkin and other low-level PI grunts
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology in a nutshell: The lights are on, but nobody’s home
[EIGHT years ago] Colombian senator asks defense minister to investigate Scientology over medal scandal
[NINE years ago] Bogus court documents, compliant search engines, and Scientology-style rehabs
[TEN years ago] Scientology’s richest couple buys ‘Holy City,’ a California ghost town and former cult site
[ELEVEN years ago] EXCLUSIVE: Tom Cruise Scientology video shows the actor praising the church — in Spanish!
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: The Sea Org full regalia edition!
[THIRTEEN years ago] Jon Atack and a Special Guest Wrestle with Gerry Armstrong’s Legal Scientology Nightmare
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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 3,716 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,220 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,726 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,276 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,652 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,147 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,453 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,102 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,320 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,874 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,215 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,786 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,702 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,869 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,455 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,714 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,462 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,031 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,342 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,517 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,199 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,536 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,389 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,505 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,867 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,666 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,550 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,125 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,626 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,886 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,990 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 10, 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
