TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: It was great to hear from Joy Villa, who shared a video from her time shilling for Scientology. And the timing is great, because her experience brings up something we’ve been noticing about the church making a recent play for, of all people, young Christians. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“During the work of developing the theories and techniques of Dianetics, many techniques were used which later had to be discarded. Some of them, such as the use of hypnotism, were found not to be useful at all, except in highly unusual instances. Instead, as the techniques progressed, some of the earlier experiments had to be run out as engrams and locks and this was the case with all attempts at working with hypnotism. As new data accumulated during the years, new techniques would be built and then discarded.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1951
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“The whole theory of psychotherapy fell down and went boom the moment we discovered that we were not treating the first dynamic when we were running engrams. Psychotherapy went by the boards. It died. It turned up its heels, and it has now even ceased to give an odor.” — L. Ron Hubbard, October 20, 1954
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“Lack of use of Auditing to handle physical troubles has greatly extended our MO list. The practice of not auditing pcs who did not F/N at Exam and introducing ‘remedies’ has shown us which way not to go. Medicine and drugs reach back into the history of the witchcraft, Satanism, infanticide love potions and handling inter personal relations with arsenic. Born of abominations drugs and medicine continue their career in modern times. The only improvement has been to cut the throat of the patient instead of a sacrificial goat’s. I’m fed up with medicine and the lunatics in the drug business. We should pass a law they must wear the clothing of their trade — conical hats with stars and moons on them and black robes. Our recent stat on MO lines proves it. We are the wave of the future. We should get our feet out of the contaminated past.” — The Commodore, October 20, 1970
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“The invalidation and refusal to declare the Clear state is one of the most evil crimes I can think of. As can be seen, it causes no end of difficulties, no matter how you look at it. In fact, it can, on occasion, even be lethal. Fortunately, we have a good crew out here who know what they are doing with regard to the state, and how to sort it all out. The Tech is even able to handle situations where it’s been abused or incorrectly applied. Pretty nifty!”
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1996: Scientology this week purchased the assets of the Cult Awareness Network at an auction in federal court. The mailing lists and other sensitive files were apparently not sold. “The Cult Awareness Network, Inc.’s service mark and trademark rights, including rights to the use of the CAN stylized logo, were sold as part of a $20,000.00 purchase of CAN assets in the federal bankruptcy court. Steven Hayes, of the law firm of Bowles & Hayes, bought the assets. The purchase becomes final in seven days. Mr. Hayes will control the service mark and trademark rights at that time. It not clear yet whether Mr. Hayes, or others associated with him, could take action against organizations using the words ‘Cult Awareness Network’ in their name without his permission, or merely for the stylized CAN/Cult Awareness Network logo that appeared in the past on CAN’s literature.”
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“Hubbard was like 12 when he was in Asia. The only thing he was studying was jerking off.”
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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] Scientology mega-donor explains why you must attend the big thetan meetup of 2025
[TWO years ago] Scientology gets the jump on the holidays (that it believes are an alien plot)
[THREE years ago] Jane Doe 1 attempts to serve David Miscavige in multiple places: Will court deem it enough?
[FOUR years ago] Scientology concepts were plentiful on 2nd day of testimony in Danny Masterson trial
[FIVE years ago] Crazy fun on Scientology’s private cruise ship in the Caribbean, still tied to the dock
[SIX years ago] What Danny Masterson’s prosecutor revealed about the case in yesterday’s hearing
[SEVEN years ago] Scientologist anti-vaxx group fundraises on the idea its big California loss was a win
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology’s astounding pre-history in a new book you really need to read
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s Flag Building brain injury: In Clearwater, it’s déjà vu all over again
[TEN years ago] Chris Shelton: What Louis Theroux missed about the Scientology experience in his film
[ELEVEN years ago] Two years after Scientology’s ‘Super Power’ debuted, it’s still a flop
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology is turning Larry Hagman’s house into a drunk tank for celebs
[THIRTEEN years ago] Next in the Garcia Fraud Lawsuit: Scientology Is Asked to Explain Its Arbitration System
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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 3,787 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,291 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,797 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,347 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,723 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,218 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,524 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,173 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,391 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,945 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,286 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,856 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,773 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,940 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,526 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,785 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,533 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,102 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,413 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,588 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,270 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,607 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,460 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,576 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,938 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,737 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,581 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,196 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,697 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,957 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 16,061 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on October 20, 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
