TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Researcher and blogger Jeffrey Augustine has been a huge help to us over the years investigating Scientology, and he’s been a good friend. It’s tough to see him deal with adversity, but he and Karen de la Carriere wanted us to let our readers know what he’s facing. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“A better definition of the dividing line between psychosis and neurosis is needed. The difference appears to be in whether “I”, the awareness of awareness, has been completely taken over by an engram, a series of engrams, or a demon circuit. A neurotic person has not given up the strain of keeping some of his attention in present time, and will not do so until forced by chronic, constant restimulation to do so. When this happens, the neurotic suddenly becomes psychotic: a psychotic break has occurred.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“You’ll find the artists and musicians of this particular planet always have some schnook alongside of them to cave them in. They always marry the wrong girl, you know, and get the wrong agent, and, because they’re creating. The industrialist, the manufacturer, that sort of thing, these boys, it’s not because of any deep-seated communist plot, it’s just they are in trouble, that’s all. They haven’t got enough force to protect their own creativeness, and as a result, why, people attack them. Elementary. Basic answer on the whole track, if you had never had anybody create anything, you would have no trouble. Nothing had ever been created, why, of course you wouldn’t have any universe to be in trouble with. This is all very elementary.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 10, 1963
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“Did you notice ashore how the native pesetas have inflated??? Wow. We better start getting our stats up. World inflation is ZOOMING. That would eat up all our reserves in a minute. So Hi Ho for the open sea. Farewell and adieu to you Spanish ladies. Farewell and adieu to you ladies of Spain. Until we strike soundings in the Channel of Old England. But we hope in a short time to see you again.” — The Commodore, September 10, 1969
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“What puzzles me is that there is so much opportunity for lawsuits, because none of the shut down laws, social distancing laws, mask laws are legal. They are all arbitrary laws. They are not based on facts. They are only held in place by media lies and fear mongering and arguments. Arbitrary laws are not legally binding. WTF is wrong with all the effing lawyers in America? The most litigious country in the world. This is unbelievably insane! There are 8 billion stupid people on earth. There is no intelligent life on earth. Anthony Fauci is the biggest criminal on earth, along with Bill Gates and company.”
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1998: The St. Petersburg Times reported that Scientology is opening a new school in Clearwater, the Clearwater Academy. “A new private school using educational concepts promoted by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard is scheduled to open today downtown. Clearwater Academy International, at Drew Street and Myrtle Avenue, will have an enrollment of 120 students from pre-kindergarten through the 12th grade, said executive director Pam Chipman. A new $1.5-million facility now holds the combined enrollment and resources of three smaller schools that merged last year — A to Be School, Jefferson Academy and Renaissance Academy. About 150 people attended the event, including several top officials from the Church of Scientology, Clearwater’s Assistant City Manager Bob Keller, city Public Works Administrator Rich Baier and Nancy Cartwright. The annual tuition at Clearwater Academy is $7,800. School is in session year-round from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each weekday, except for 6 weeks of off time sprinkled throughout each year.”
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“After all these years a Scientologist is trying to dox me? I gave vaLLarrr more than enough clues to dox me but OSA was too incompetent to pick up on it. Actually it’s probably just Flunk looking for revenge.”
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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] A deeper look at Scientology’s last-minute bid for permission to erect its big tent
[TWO years ago] Marc Headley: More Scientology craziness from Emily Armstrong’s mom
[THREE years ago] Today at Daily Beast: Joe Reaiche threatens to sue Danny Masterson’s sibs over court letters
[FOUR years ago] PODCAST: Paulette Cooper has been exposing Scientology’s abuses for more than 50 years
[FIVE years ago] After Scientology’s 9-11 fakery, a Sea Org slave makes his dicey run for freedom
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s ‘Super Power’ couple slammed down by appeals court over tax debt
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology: So much effort and heartache, for such little effect
[EIGHT years ago] A dispatch from the front: Protesting Scientology’s anti-psych quackery
[NINE years ago] Ideal and Ideal-er: England org coming soon will be Scientology to the max
[TEN years ago] Laying to rest the obfuscations of L. Fletcher Prouty, Scientology’s conspiracist-for-hire
[ELEVEN years ago] Another trial ordered against Narconon as Scientology derail attempt mostly fails
[TWELVE years ago] Finally! Scientology begins selling its mysterious ‘OT’ levels more openly with slick new videos!
[THIRTEEN years ago] SCIENTOLOGY MOVES TO DISQUALIFY MONIQUE RATHBUN’S ATTORNEYS
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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 3,747 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,251 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,757 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,307 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,683 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,178 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,484 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,133 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,351 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,905 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,246 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,817 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,733 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,900 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,486 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,745 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,493 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,062 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,373 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,548 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,230 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,567 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,420 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,536 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,898 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,697 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,581 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,156 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,657 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,917 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 16,021 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 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, 1995-2025 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
