| The Underground Bunker

Tony Ortega is a journalist who was formerly the editor of The Village Voice. He's written about Scientology since 1995, and in May 2015 released a book about Scientology's harassment of Paulette Cooper titled 'The Unbreakable Miss Lovely.' He continues to monitor breaking developments in the Scientology world from an undisclosed location in an underground bunker he shares with four cats and one of them wrinkly Shar Pei dogs. Despite his super-secret security protections, you can still reach him pretty easily by sending him a message at tonyo94 AT gmail.com (Drop him a line if you'd like to get an e-mail whenever a new story is posted.) [Header image courtesy John Rickard]

Scientology snubbed by Denver suburb after TV news asked about ‘proclamation’

[Kyle Clark of 9News]

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: With the Dianetics 75th anniversary coming Friday, Scientology has been looking for suckers to issue proclamations about the 1950 book. The church did manage to ensnare a couple of gullible small […]

Dianetics 75 countdown: New Scientology song from the original volcano ad genius!

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The 80s Dianetics TV ad by Jeff Hawkins made L. Ron Hubbard’s turgid 1950 volume a bestseller again. Geoff Levin came up with the music that helped make the ad a hit. Now Geoff […]

Scientology leader David Miscavige is 65 today, and we have presents

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: What a year of milestones for Scientology. ‘Dianetics’ turns 75 on May 9. It’s 50 years since the church first ensnared John Travolta. Travolta’s infamous flop ‘Battlefield Earth’ turns 25. And today, Scientology’s ruthless […]

Elisabeth Moss front row again for Scientology celebration of founder L. Ron Hubbard

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: A year ago we were stunned to see a very pregnant Elisabeth Moss at Scientology’s annual L. Ron Hubbard birthday in Florida. Now the church has posted photos of this year’s event, and once […]

Oh look, Scientology held another ‘Writers of the Future’ thing for some reason

[Marisol Nichols was positively thrilled to be there]

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: A few science fiction types have admitted to feeling conflicted about Scientology’s ‘Writers of the Future’ contest, which brings them to LA for a week of pampering […]

Scientology ads in London were to be replaced by ads from ex-Scientologists

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The Times reported that three ads Scientology placed in the London Underground were to have been replaced this morning with new ads from ex-Scientologists. But so far, the new ads are not in place. […]

Scientologist larping as a rabbi becomes Colombia’s Director of Religious Affairs

[Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro and Gamboa Ben-Eleazar]

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The Jerusalem Post is reporting on a ‘fake’ rabbi who got himself appointed Colombia’s Director of Religious Affairs, and the ensuing scandal there. But we know Richard Gamboa […]

San Francisco rules the Scientology universe — for this week, at least

[The Golden Gate gang!]

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox, or go to this link: Scientology has not yet sent out a press release about its annual birthday bash for founder L. Ron Hubbard, but already one secret from it has […]

Clearwater caves to Scientology again: Mark Bunker on last night’s vote

[Mark Bunker on Dave getting his way again]

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox, or go to this link: The Clearwater city council voted last night to vacate Garden Ave, the first step in selling the street to Scientology for $1.3 […]

Scientology in the time of Trumpism: Tom Cruise getting rehabbed by the right?

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox, or go to this link: We’ve been telling you lately about the surprising connections between the second Trump administration and high-level Scientology donors. But as an old Tom Cruise interview goes viral, could the […]

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