Leah Remini continues her mini-publicity blitz, this time talking with our correspondent Jeffrey Augustine for his latest podcast. We asked Jeffrey for a description…
Leah talks about her upcoming third season of Scientology and the Aftermath. She also talks about Scientology’s Fair Game policy, the church’s new television network, and Scientology as a business. She also has kind things to say about this website and its community.
Given Leah’s extensive background in television, I asked her how she would characterize Scientology TV. She said that David Miscavige has spent something like $100 million for an infomercial that endlessly cycles through the same content — in other words, a glorified YouTube channel.
As for Fair Game, Leah says the contributors to her show have been subjected to Scientology’s usual tactics of character assassination. But she says that no amount of Fair Game will stop her or anyone else who works to expose the brutality, lies, and greed of the Church of Scientology.
Leah describes her ongoing process of unlearning and undoing what Scientology did to her. This work is helping her regain what Scientology took from her and everyone else who has been harmed by Scientology. This unlearning, which so many former Scientologists are familiar with, allows the restoration of one’s humanity, compassion, and caring.
— Jeffrey Augustine
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Bonus items from our tipsters
Here’s a great example of the kind of claims we were talking about yesterday. The Scientology television network — it’s a miracle!
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SMERSH Madness 2018
We’ve reached the Final Four! We’ve really whittled things down in our big dance featuring the people we think are working hardest to defend Scientology against its enemies. These are not only Scientologists, but also the people who enable the church as it works against its foes. Which of them do you think deserves the most recognition for Keeping Scientology Working, spreading disconnection, and litigating former Scientologists into the ground?
Today’s match features our #2 seed, actor Tom Cruise, who defeated Tommy Davis in the second round and Nancy Cartwright in the third. Easily the most recognized Scientologist in the world, he’s been a feather in David Miscavige’s cap since he started in the church back in the year 1986. And today, Cruise and Miscavige really do consider themselves the two most important human beings on Earth, and those of us not following their example are deluded, degraded beings living on a prison planet. Even after the revelations that his best pal is spying on him, manipulating his relationships, and even laughs at his sexual problems behind his back, Cruise seems utterly dedicated to the cause — despite what you might have heard.
Cruise is taking on our #11 seed and former top Scientology official Mark “Marty” Rathbun, who has certainly been earning his stripes lately as Scientology’s go-to attack dog. (Rathbun defeated Danny Masterson in the first round, Trish Duggan in the second, and John Travolta in the third.) It’s a pretty stunning turn of events for people who were watching Rathbun’s gradual trajectory from Miscavige enforcer (1980s to 2004) to reclusive defector (2004-2008) to Indie champion (2009-2012) to anti-church litigant (2013-2015) and then back to Miscavige defender (2016- ). In his professionally-prepared attack videos, he’s taken a shotgun approach with blasts at everyone from Lawrence Wright to Paul Haggis to Leah Remini. But it’s his vicious swipes at Mike Rinder, formerly such a good and supportive friend, that really strike us as ugly in the extreme. It’s a pretty bewildering U-turn for a man who once said, “Just so everybody knows, as Miscavige just won’t seem to get it through his head, I will never fold to any pressure no matter how intense, and I am not for sale – at any price.”
Who deserves to move on as champions of Scientology? Who has done more to perpetuate the church’s reputation in this time of crisis? Cast your votes!
Yesterday’s winner: David Miscavige defeated Bert Deixler!
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Make your plans now!
Head over to our HowdyCon 2018 website to start making your travel plans!
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Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,068 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 1,671 days
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 214 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,277 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,051 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 2,825 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,171 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 2,665 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 1,705 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,417 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 943 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,032 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,172 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,492 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,467 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 823 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,125 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,231 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 1,634 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,506 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,088 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 1,593 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 1,837 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 12,946 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 29, 2018 at 07:00
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Our book, 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, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…
BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts
Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news
