
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“As we have both terror and fear at the same point on the tone scale, we can see that there is a difference of intensity for any point on that scale. This is like the question of pitch and volume in music. The point on the scale would compare to pitch. The volume of the note would compare to the amount of Theta energy or enTheta energy present at that point. Thus, a group must also be alert for the energy of an administrator—in other words, his dynamic potential in terms of volume. A group could have a very high Theta leader who was high in tone scale point only but who had no volume of energy to offer. Searching for energy volume a group may often mistake MEST force for Theta power in a man. True a man who can become very energetically high Theta can, during moments of turbulence, become large volume enTheta, but his volume will only direct at enTheta, not Theta. There is another characteristic of personality, like “quality” in music, which has to do with the caliber or workability of the reasoning of the leader. High Theta and high volume of energy and high quality of reason combine into excellent leadership.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1951
——————–
“The fellow who says, ‘Well, all right, all right, so they’re fighting in M-ghanistan. I can’t do anything about it.’ You’ve suddenly — you’ve suddenly had him admit that he couldn’t, he couldn’t have the space of M-ghanistan. And now, this is the biggest trick that your real entheta boys use. They get people to go around admitting they can’t have any — can’t do anything about things.” — L. Ron Hubbard, October 16, 1953
——————–
“Command Intention for the ship at this time is TO HAVE A FULLY OPERATIONAL SHIP, SMART COMPETENT CREW AND A POSH YACHT ATMOSPHERE AND APPEARANCE FOR SHIP AND CREW. Command Intention for the Flag Org at this time is TO COPE AND CONTINUE AT HIGH SPEED THOSE ACTIONS ALREADY IN PROGRESS AND PROVING SO WORTHWHILE IN Station Ships, AOs and orgs. Flag personnel, attention to the external affairs of the SO and improve those down stats.” — The Commodore October 16, 1969
——————–
“Do you think President Donald Trump is an OT? He must know that focusing on beingness by donating his havingness altruistically makes him even more powereful. The other side has witches practicing magic against him, yet he seems to grow in power. I support him at Tone 40. I shudder to think what Liberty we might lose to practice our beliefs if the communists come into power. It is the same press they control that works to destroy Scientology as works to destroy President Trump.”
——————–
1999: An affidavit filed in the Lisa McPherson civil case was posted to a.r.s this week. The declaration by Robert Vaughn Young supports Jesse Prince’s declaration that high level Scientology officials would have been informed about Lisa’s treatment, which led to her death in 1995. Some excerpts: “At issue in this case is the command structure of Scientology and the issue of who might have known what or issued orders regarding the incarceration of Lisa McPherson. The organization is seeking to keep the controversy isolated to the Clearwater organizations, but this is not how Scientology has ever operated. The current corporate structure of the Scientology organization was created (starting in 1981) to prevent the intrusion of the courts and the authorities, by throwing up what appeared to be distinct corporations. This structure came about after the FBI raid of Scientology in 1977, which produced considerable evidence that the organization had been burglarizing federal (and other) offices as well as conducting other illegal activities. For these activities Mary Sue Hubbard, the wife of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard and ten of her executive staff were jailed. Hubbard, himself, was named as an unindicted co-conspirator. With the raid, Hubbard went hiding to avoid being served. Meanwhile, despite the screams and protestations about ‘religious persecution’ that the GO was issuing, Mary Sue Hubbard and the 10 named aides signed a ‘Stipulation of Evidence’ and accepted the charges and went to jail. A ‘corporate sortout’ project had already been underway to restructure the organization to allow Hubbard to return and take command and to give him new protection. This was augmented by a ‘Special Project’ headed by David Miscavige that went to Los Angeles in 1981 to take command. Amongst their tasks, was the secret creation of several corporations, including Author Services, Inc. (ASI) and Religious Technology Center (RTC). It was decided to beef up the Religious Technology Center (RTC) to take some of the functions from ASI, thus reducing the threats. Until then, RTC had been junior to ASI only because the most senior organization was where Miscavige was working. Miscavige began to spend more time at RTC, which was taking on the function of running Dept. 20, which was renamed as the ‘Office of Special Affairs.’ In my nearly 21 years in various Scientology organizations and echelon, from when Hubbard was in charge to after he was dead, the basic structure and operation of the organization never really changed all that much. The manner in which orders were issued or situations reported remained on a military model. Whether the orders came from Hubbard or Miscavige, the manner that they were issued and enforced never changed even when the organization name (the GO or RTC or ASI) changed. Nor was compliance and reporting ever changed. Corporate entities were merely ways of giving the impression that there was a different structure when there wasn’t one. We didn’t pay attention to corporate structure before the 1977 raid and we didn’t pay attention to it after the reorganization of 1980-81. The only difference was the power of the Sea Org and the Guardian’s Office was consolidated. The task of executives remained the same: forward orders from ‘command’ while ensuring that the senior not implicated if anything goes wrong. If this meant hiding or destroying documents or shifting personnel or even lying, it was done. That is an unchanging pattern that the organization developed with Hubbard and then Miscavige. Just as an
army protects its general or command central, so does Scientology (working on the military model) protect those who are in command. I have seen the protests of the higher level organization that they knew nothing of Lisa McPherson, from the time of her initial automobile accident to her isolation to her death. To those who know how the organization works, this is ludicrous. That excuse has been conjured up by the organization for every flap to protect the hierarchy. Sea Org members
(as it was true for GO members) deem it their duty to ‘take responsibility’ and let the buck end with them when ‘senior command’ is threatened. Only the most fanatically loyal who are willing to sacrifice themselves to protect the courts or the authorities from reaching ‘command’ are brought forward. Those who claim to have inside knowledge are denounced as frauds. But those of us who do speak out have more than our own experiences to show the courts and the authorities. We have the long, unchanging pattern of behavior of this organization not only in the US but in other countries where it has been documented that the organization will lie and cheat and defraud the government and the courts to protect itself. Thus based on my nearly 21 years experience in doing just that (my task was to manipulate the media and the membership), I fully concur with Jesse Prince’s conclusion that there is no way that the highest echelon of this organization did not know about Lisa McPherson. From the time that she took off her clothes in the street, she presented herself as at least a PR danger, if not a legal one. Those reports are instantly sent to the top of the command channel with recommended handlings and the lowest echelon knows that it cannot admit to it because it would involve ‘command.’ They must ‘make it their own’ (to quote a Scientology communications drill called TR1) even if it wasn’t theirs to begin with. Every staff member learns this very early on. ‘Make it your own’ means that it is yours, even if it isn’t. Thus the staff member who gets an order from Miscavige must ‘make it their own’ which means that if asked whose idea it is, the staff member is capable of saying in all honestly, ‘It was my idea,’ even if it wasn’t. That is TR-1, one of the most basic instincts drilled into every staff member for years. Like Mr. Prince, I too have seen records kept on Lisa McPherson and I concur that she was held against her will with the knowledge and consent and direct orders of Scientology executives that would come directly from the Religious Technology Center (RTC.) RTC would have been the first to be told and be kept updated, as Mr. Prince states. The saddest part is that the organization demands such information not for the benefit of the person involved or hurt but to protect the image of the organization. The Scientology maxim is, ‘The greatest good for the greatest number.’ When it comes to protecting the organization itself, that determines the morality of the act. It is ‘the end justifies the means.’ That is why she was isolated and that is why there are records missing. The organization and its ‘command’ must be protected at all costs. That is why Lisa McPherson died. In conclusion, let me say that any attempt to say that these various Scientology organizations are distinct and separate is like saying the kidneys and lungs are separate organs of the body. They are but they are connected and controlled by a blood, endocrine and nervous system and in Scientology that nexus is the Sea Org. It connects and commands the entire Scientology empire and has since Miscavige took control in 1982.”
——————–
“The only sexual magick Crowley had came from an opium pipe or a syringe loaded with smack that let him keep it up all night. In street parlance it’s called ‘dope dick’.”
——————–
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 heard and submitted, waiting for ruling. 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. Scientology’s attempt to gut the case failed, and appeals court upheld. Back to trial court in December.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ 17 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. Case returning 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. Hearing on arbitration motion set for March, 2027.
——————–
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?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Tom Cruise single again? Scientology is ready to cash in either way!
[TWO years ago] Scientology fruit loop Vivian Kubrick says her dad Stanley would have supported Trump
[THREE years ago] Mirriam Francis: Scientology’s system of abuse was exposed by the Danny Masterson trials
[FOUR years ago] PODCAST: Auditing Mary Sue Hubbard while Scientology kept her on house arrest
[FIVE years ago] When L. Ron Hubbard’s Scientology followers put him on the spot about space opera
[SIX years ago] Danny Masterson ‘accidentally’ outs Jane Doe accuser after judge told him not to
[SEVEN years ago] Tom Cruise at the IAS gala with his kids Connor and Isabella? We think it’s likely.
[EIGHT years ago] Growing up in Scientology, and growing together outside of it: An appeal
[NINE years ago] Crashing a ‘Mace-Kingsley’ event in Pasadena to get some answers about Scientology and kids
[TEN years ago] Our story last week about Narconon deaths kicked up a fuss — and news of two more deaths
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology on trial in Belgium: An update from our man in Europe
[TWELVE years ago] The Garcias answer Scientology’s ‘International Justice Chief’ with an affidavit by Mike Rinder
[THIRTEEN years ago] Scientology Asks for Protection in Texas; ALSO: Lawrence Wright a Finalist for Nat’l Book Award
——————–
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 3,783 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,287 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,793 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,343 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,719 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,214 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,520 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,169 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,387 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,941 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,282 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,852 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,769 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,936 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,522 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,781 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,529 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,098 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,409 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,584 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,266 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,603 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,456 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,572 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,934 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,733 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,577 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,192 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,693 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,953 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 16,057 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on October 16, 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)
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates.

Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast







