TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Scientology may be struggling to bring in new members, but it never stops trying to take over the world. We have two new examples for you today, a strip mall mission and a school infiltration! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“In Dianetics we consider the worth of the individual to himself, to his group, to Mankind and posterity. With dianometry we are seeking to measure that worth. For these equations of worth, we use ability to think, power to execute and the vectors of purpose. Ability to think is more than intelligence. Intelligence would be the complexity of the mind in computation, its agility in the matter of perceiving, posing and resolving problems. The ability to think includes intelligence and the training, experience and data stored in the mind. The ability to think is not a structural potential of the mechanism but the actual capability of the experienced and stored mind.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1951
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“We could bring people in off the streets and have them walk down the hall and stop in Office 1 where a little sign says, ‘Glasses removed here.’ We wouldn’t have any couches or anything cluttering the place up like that, and we could just walk them around the hall and at each station there would be another auditor and he would just ask standard questions. The people coming in would walk all the way around and then out on the street again. Of course, they would stop at the desk before they went out and write out a check for the equivalent amount of medical treatment, which would come to $8,687,962.05! There is some slight possibility that we may be at that stage. I don’t want to over evaluate anything, however.” — L. Ron Hubbard, October 1, 1951
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“With only a third of the crew done Festival Stats have fallen. Immediate Emergency action was taken. A new threat is required according to the C/Ses. The three Highest Hours get a SPECIAL BONUS. The three with the Lowest Hours have to push a peanut with their nose the whole circle of the prom deck on Grand Ball Night and the one who loses the peanut race can only wear a sheet for the next 24 hours. Review Auditors are included.” — The Commodore, October 1, 1971
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“Frankly, I don’t think ‘discussions’ about history or any other topic ever produce much of any value. Debate is vastly overrated as a way to come to realistic conclusions about anything. Discussion is fun and occasionally someone says something that makes you cognite about something. But it rarely resolves anything. Online discussions also have a value in knitting together a community. In our case, we can’t all descend on the corner bar and have beers together. Now I know of a variety of trained and reliable ‘with-LRH’ people. And hopefully more will follow. Because God knows, there are few enough of us out here as it is.”
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1998: A hearing was held in the Dennis Erlich case this week. Keith Henson posted a report on the proceedings. “[I] came in with Carla Oakley doing a fine job on a number of points. One which stuck in my mind (because Judge Whyte ruled against me on it) was that the courts have held that you have to look at a larger picture than just a few pages which were copyrighted as a tiny unit of something larger, and that it has been held by the courts that sometimes fair use permits quoting the whole thing. There was considerable argument about deposing Mary Sue Hubbard. It looks possible that Judge Whyte may permit that. If so, it will have to be done fairly soon, because the pretrial conf was set for Dec. 18. The scns wanted a date after April, because Rosen is tied up in other cases till then. Dennis’ lawyers wanted one as soon as they could get it. They argued that the order Dennis is under greatly inhibits his ability to speak out against the abuses of scientology. Judge Whyte got very hot at this accusation, saying that that was not his intention. After the hearing, the judge called all the lawyers into chambers and imposed a settlement conference on them. Judge Whyte seems to have put the scns on notice that they have potential problems because of their abuse of Dennis’ civil rights when they got and then abused a civil search warrant they got from him– one which he later ruled was unconstitutional.”
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“The only place D.M. is taking his ass if the seat gets too hot is to Tahiti or the Russian Riviera. He’s a gangster, not a fanatic.”
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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] Scientology’s plans run into ecological quagmire: Meet the Great Crested Newt!
[TWO years ago] The night Scientology’s celebrities shined, and he reached his limit
[THREE years ago] Scientology makes an exception for ABCMouse honcho, will hold memorial for Doug Dohring
[FOUR years ago] PODCAST: Jon Atack has some things to say about Mike Rinder’s new book on Scientology
[FIVE years ago] New evidence that private eyes stalking Leah Remini and J-Lo were working for Scientology
[SIX years ago] SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS, Episode 8: The secret Paul Haggis shared with the wrong person
[SEVEN years ago] Valerie Haney drops ‘Jane Doe’ label in brutal amended complaint against Scientology
[EIGHT years ago] Dispatches from our far-flung correspondents agree: Scientology still sucks
[NINE years ago] Scientology celebrates its disaster response in Florida, but struggles in Puerto Rico and Mexico
[TEN years ago] Atack: Scientology advocates serenity, so why are so many Scientologists angry jerks?
[ELEVEN years ago] Cathriona White’s Scientology ‘twin’ on grueling courses was an actor named Travis Case
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology’s drug rehab network hit with lawsuit number 22 by attorney Ryan Hamilton
[THIRTEEN years ago] RAY JEFFREY 1, SCIENTOLOGY 0: Disqualify Motion Denied in Harassment Lawsuit
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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 3,768 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,272 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,778 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,328 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,704 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,199 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,505 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,154 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,372 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,926 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,267 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,837 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,754 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,921 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,507 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,766 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,514 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,083 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,394 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,569 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,251 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,588 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,441 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,557 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,919 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,718 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,562 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,177 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,678 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,938 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 16,042 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on October 1, 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
