TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Clearwater’s council voted to give a key street to Scientology. That’s not only being challenged by a petition from the Florida city’s voters, but also a lawsuit from one of its most notable music venues. ALSO: Alex Barnes-Ross and Dave prepare for the IAS! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“A reactive mind is, of course, all the memories soldered together. If Mr. Jones thinks of a horse he will connect this horse with other horses, other events, other facts in his mind. If the horse memories are soldered into engrams which are connected with other engrams which have church memories in them, a horse will equal a church for Mr. Jones. If Jones is an average person he will, when not anaten, merely have a vague feeling that somehow horses seem to belong with churches—old country church with horses hitched outside, etc. If he is near-psychotic, or if this chain of engrams is in violent restimulation, there will be a compulsion to think of horses and churches as being equal to each other, and he will resent any implication that this is not true. If poor Jones is psychotic, he might insist on stabling his horse in the church.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1951
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“The Eighth Dynamic is really infinity stood upright. And it simply means infinity. Now, you can come along and say, ‘Well, you also mean the Supreme Being?’ No, we don’t particularly mean the Supreme Being. How do we know that you aren’t, collectively, the Supreme Being. See? That’s probably much more closer to truth. There are gods around of various kinds. There are some wind gods over in India; there are various savage gods of one kind or another. But if you give them a good quizzing you find out that they’re just a thetan and they behave most remarkably like you would if you hadn’t thought that you ought to lay aside all the power you had, too.” — L. Ron Hubbard, October 19, 1954
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“NOTES FROM HCI: In spite of Sea Watches, Drills and docking the following completed courses yesterday: Al Bornstein, Lookout Specialist; David Ziff, HDG; Dekki Le, SO SS; David Ziff, HSDC; Sharon West, SO SS; Liz Ausley, OOD Specialist. Very Well Done. It’s great to see thetans making things go right.” — The Commodore, October 19, 1970
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“Scientology is a religion that the government has been trying to ban for ages because it creates independent thinkers. Kinda like Joe Rogan’s podcast, it wakes people up to mainstream media lies.”
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1995: Dennis Erlich reports on the latest harassment from the cult. “I was just informed that overnight someone threw acid on my parent’s brand new car which was parked in front of Priscilla and Ed Coates’ house where I am staying as a guest. The paint job on the car (which has less than 3000 miles on it) has been ruined.”
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“A day without Kirstie is like a day without donuts.”
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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 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.
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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] Former Dream Exchanger on Scientology at the startup, and other problems
[TWO years ago] Elvis Presley and Priscilla have previously unknown grandchild in Florida, lawsuit claims
[THREE years ago] ‘Piece of Blue Sky’ author Jon Atack hits a big Scientology anniversary
[FOUR years ago] Here’s the origin of the Scientology phrase Jane Doe 1 used that almost caused a mistrial
[FIVE years ago] Luis Garcia steps in to help Danny Masterson’s accusers: Scientology ‘arbitration’ is corrupt
[SIX years ago] Danny Masterson’s attorneys back in court in rape case today while he’s in Wyoming
[SEVEN years ago] Let’s help Scientology actor Danny Masterson name his new wine venture
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology has to open its books again, and we dig into the numbers
[NINE years ago] Raid in Hungary: Scientology’s Cold War tactics are colliding with 21st Century data privacy
[TEN years ago] Scientology’s biggest lie: That it will teach you to take control of your own life
[ELEVEN years ago] Would you buy a used car from this man? Scientology and refunds — a primer
[TWELVE years ago] Marty Rathbun on being ambushed at LAX by raving Scientologists: ‘It was insane’
[THIRTEEN years ago] SCIENTOLOGY DROPS A BOMB ON MONIQUE RATHBUN’S 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 3,786 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,290 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,796 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,346 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,722 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,217 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,523 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,172 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,390 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,944 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,285 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,855 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,772 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,939 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,525 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,784 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,532 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,101 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,412 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,587 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,269 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,606 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,459 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,575 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,937 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,736 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,580 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,195 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,696 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,956 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 16,060 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on October 19, 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
