TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Yesterday we heard from Mark Bunker, who fell short on his attempt to regain a seat on Clearwater’s council. Today we thought we would review what other results from Tuesday’s midterms election might have interested Scientology in one way or another. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Dianetics, properly and unselfishly used, does not break up marriages. It brings together partners whose marriage is really on the rocks but who genuinely wish to remain together. The trick is to get each partner past the danger point, that crucial point where either would be raised sufficiently on the tone scale to decide that enough of marriage is enough. Beyond this point, it is smoother sailing.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1951
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“Just this morning I am in correspondence with the Atomic Energy Commission on some material and have been for the last year and a half. We have some answers in mathematics in which they’re very interested, and so forth…If a man is burned today, he’s going to suffer because of it. There isn’t much going to interrupt the course of that fission burn except Scientology…Atomic radiation isn’t actually too hard to handle on an alleviation basis — on an assist basis — if your boy is not in too bad condition, if preclear is not too bad condition.” — L. Ron Hubbard, November 5, 1956
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“No need to get too excited about ‘la grippe.’ It is about a 36 hour malady if correctly treated with Kemacetin. Kemicetin (or any anti-biotic) is given to get the temperature sub-normal and kept sub-normal until the temperature can’t be depressed any longer. Then the person is well. M.D.s don’t know this. It’s the secret of using anti-biotics. YOGHERT must be given for several days to anyone who has been on oral anti-biotics. It restores the natural colonic bacteria. This is killed (along with bad germs) by oral anti-biotics and must be restored. I think the consul’s cancellation of the big-wig reception and the ‘reporter’ made people a bit PTS. It’s unusual for Scns to get ill unless they’re PTS.” — The Commodore, November 5, 1969
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“We are incredibly lucky to be here on this planet at this time, so as to take advantage of this original opportunity to be freed. It hasn’t existed anywhere else ever. From time to time, you can see our ideas reflected in modern culture as time goes forward. And the basic ideas may infiltrate our culture for a long time. But ultimately, Scientology, to be fully effective, requires trained auditors and administrators. There’s just no way around it. That’s where we come in. We are, in effect, the ‘shepherds’ of a new civilization.”
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1998: The Los Angeles Daily News published an article this week on Scientology celebrity Nancy Cartwright. “The longtime voice of Bart has a life-size statue of a black-and-white cow on the lawn of her Northridge home. As you walk through the multi-colored gates of her one-acre homestead, it doesn’t take long to realize that Cartwright has at least one thing in common with the eternally 10-year old Bart – a sense of playfulness. Cartwright, a Scientologist for the past decade, has adopted L. Ron Hubbard’s administrative techniques, and points are accessed for any forward motion. For instance, booking an on-camera acting job is worth 1,000 points. ‘It is misunderstood like all new religions,’ Cartwright said of Scientology. ‘Critics just need to read a book to find out what it really is. I wanted something very practical to give me stability. Certainly being an artist in Hollywood is an unstable profession,’ she said. ‘Scientology gives me a basis for which to operate.'”
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“Goodnight everyone and get your rest because tomorrow we travel further up the McSavage River into the Heart Of Darkness.”
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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] OT Phenomena: More talking with the dead for Scientology superbeings!
[TWO years ago] Scientology ruins everything — even a massive onion farm in England
[THREE years ago] Jane Doe 1 asks for emergency hearing and Scientology is not happy about it
[FOUR years ago] PODCAST: Looking back at the third week of testimony in the Danny Masterson trial
[FIVE years ago] Finally, a (mostly) full and accurate transcript from one of Scientology’s darkest days
[SIX years ago] The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 9: The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office
[SEVEN years ago] AUDIO LEAK: You’re invited to a Scientology TV watch party at the Portland org!
[EIGHT years ago] Who Scientology’s ‘Int Base’ is rooting for in tomorrow’s local election
[NINE years ago] Shakeup at Narconon Arrowhead: Former worker dishes fresh intel on Scientology’s rehab flagship
[TEN years ago] An enduring myth in Scientology — that L. Ron Hubbard actually read your letters
[ELEVEN years ago] Hey, Miscavige, quit calling Leah Remini names and produce your wife already
[TWELVE years ago] Ken Dandar files another court appeal to get out of Scientology’s million-dollar noose
[THIRTEEN years ago] Luis Garcia Responds: We Don’t Trust Scientology’s Trustee Ploy
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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 3,803 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,307 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,813 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,363 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,739 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,234 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,540 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,189 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,407 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,961 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,302 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,872 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,789 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,956 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,542 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,801 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,549 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,118 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,429 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,604 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,286 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,623 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,476 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,592 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,954 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,753 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,597 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,212 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,713 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,973 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 16,077 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on November 5, 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
