TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Another tribute to the Ramones is happening tomorrow at the Hollywood Forever cemetery, where legendary guitarist Johnny Ramone is buried, and once again it’s being hosted by Scientology celeb John Travolta. And we think the reason for it is worth celebrating. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Education of the parent includes, of course, the basic ideas of Preventive Dianetics. Don’t talk around a sick or injured child. As soon as anaten begins to depart after a minor accident, act to make the child comfortable, but do not talk for many minutes. Don’t leave the child in a restimulative atmosphere. Don’t take a child up from the middle of a nice sleep and tell her repeatedly to “sit there in that chair and listen to what a terrible thing it is to be married to a man,” as one mother did Try to keep the child away from highly charged dramatizations of any kind. Care for the child efficiently, but quietly. Do not establish yourself as an indispensable ally.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“One court in Virginia, they proved conclusively that Scientology was a healing science, because it cured things, and actually brought people into court to show that they had been cured of something by Scientology, which proved it was a healing cience, and gave some, and I don’t even think though they had the nerve to call the auditor in and sentence him. I think he remains unsentenced to this day. It was just too much nonsense, you see. In other words, they can go clear around the line. That proves we’re a healing subject, you see. Wild business. Look the length and breadth of the land, I don’t think they could have found anybody who’d been healed by anything on medicine. But they were proving our cases for us.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 29, 1963
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“The Club Dinner aboard was a great success and the Port Captain’s org officer is filing commendables in the folders of all who contributed. We apparently were a CIA shp that really smuggles cats to hang crowbars on banana trees. But this is all scotched. The guests were very pleased. (I’m going to send bills for advertising to both CIA and the Mafia.) This Club didn’t know they had other clubs in nearby ports. And by the way a recent mission reports the last country we were in all cool. The Rep there reported a flap, failed to report the flap was vanished.” — The Commodore, August 29, 1971
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“Great Success Story for OT 9 (CBR). Well, I certainly know why this level is called Phoenix. That is the perfect name! I am only a few sessions in, but let me see if I can describe it for you. We all have constructs we have assembled for one reason for another and by which we operate. Both sides of the bridge, from my observation, serve to dismantle constructs so that we my operate more by postulate and closer to a native state. Constructs are sneaky things in that until revealed by auditing or training they are difficult, if not impossible to find. What Phoenix does is find, reveal and implode constructs. Each session is not at all dissimilar to placing charges on key structural points of a huge building in your city, detonating them and then watching an old, outdated and imposing edifice crumble before your eyes… AND THEN literally emerging from the ashes. There are a few more constructs in my city to address, but without these first few obstructions in the way I am enjoying a view of the blue sky that was hidden behind them.”
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2000: The Arizona Daily Star reported that an Arizona Scientologist has been charged with investment fraud. “Benjamin Franklin Cook III was charged with 37 counts of racketeering, fraud and theft in connection with an investment scheme run by his company, Dennel Finance Ltd. The indictment alleges that Cook defrauded more than 300 investors of a total of $41 million. If convicted, Cook, of Carefree, could face a sentence of up to several hundred years in prison. Cook’s plan promised investors that their money would be placed in a European Bank trading program. They allege that he used the money to buy luxury items like cars, airplanes, a house and other real estate properties. Cook also donated $1.8 million to the Church of Scientology.”
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“After the horrorshow called Jonestown and the government-led debacle at Waco, no one has to wonder at the government’s reluctance to revisit Cultland. The only reason they got involved with FLDS was because of the rampant pedophilia. And even with that righteous justification, the Feds got all kinds of shit from the religious right wing in this country.”
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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] Site report: Scientology invasion of this city getting lost in the weeds
[TWO years ago] He was in Scientology’s highest circles, but when he left he paid the price so many do
[THREE years ago] A 2017 flight suggests that Scientology leader is still canoodling with his ‘communicator’
[FOUR years ago] October showdowns: After years of delays, Scientology-related trials are looming
[FIVE years ago] Tom Cruise’s Scientology superpowers, No. 4: Destroying a planet with the touch of a finger
[SIX years ago] The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 18: Mark ‘Marty’ Rathbun
[SEVEN years ago] Another legal fight brewing over Scientology’s refusal to return future payments
[EIGHT years ago] Some countries force Scientology to open the books: Here’s one report on how bad business is
[NINE years ago] LIVE FROM SAN ANTONIO: Will a former Scientology enforcer be compelled to testify?
[TEN years ago] A Scientologist on the ballot: OC candidate keeping mum about his anti-psych work
[ELEVEN years ago] Louisiana congressman posts Narconon pic, then yanks it after we point out Scientology link
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology yesterday and today: Reports from Mark Bunker and Dennis Erlich
[THIRTEEN years ago] What the Daily News Left Out of its Story on Scientology in Harlem
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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 3,735 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,239 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,745 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,295 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,671 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,166 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,472 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,121 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,339 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,893 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,234 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,805 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,721 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,888 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,474 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,733 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,481 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,050 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,361 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,536 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,218 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,555 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,408 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,524 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,886 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,685 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,569 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,144 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,645 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,905 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 16,009 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 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, 1995-2025 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
