Hear skateboard star Aaron Kyro’s victory speech as he wins Scientology’s ‘Birthday Game’

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Mark Bunker comes through again! Last week he shared leaked audio from Scientology’s L. Ron Hubbard birthday event in March. Now, there’s more, including Braille Skateboarding’s Aaron Kyro giving a speech for winning the annual Birthday Game. Yeah, it’s as nutty as it sounds. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading Hear skateboard star Aaron Kyro’s victory speech as he wins Scientology’s ‘Birthday Game’

Downfall of Scientology’s plan: Temporary setback, or permanent victory?

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We’re still getting reactions to this week’s wild news about David Miscavige’s plans for Scientology in Clearwater being temporarily held up if not spoiled indefinitely. And we wanted to share with you an observation by one of our readers that, we admit, gave us a chuckle. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading Downfall of Scientology’s plan: Temporary setback, or permanent victory?

For a final (?) Mission, an older Tom Cruise forgets some basic film lessons

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Once again Luke Y. Thompson (AV Club) gives us an exclusive film review you’ll find only here at the Bunker. He last provided us a look at ‘M:I – Dead Reckoning Part One’ and before that what we still consider the most truthful review of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ you’ll find anywhere. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading For a final (?) Mission, an older Tom Cruise forgets some basic film lessons

Scientology’s plan is in jeopardy, and this is what Clearwater should keep in mind

[Miscavige, revealing plans for the Hall at the Birthday Event]

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We’re hearing from a lot of you about the surprising moment playing out in Clearwater, Florida, where the council faces an historic vote tomorrow. We have more thoughts from people who actually worked with Scientology leader David Miscavige, and also a warning from the past. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading Scientology’s plan is in jeopardy, and this is what Clearwater should keep in mind

Visualizing how a surprising no vote from Clearwater affects Scientology’s plans

[David Allbritton has thrown a wrench into Dave’s dream]

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We’re still stunned at last night’s news that Clearwater City Council member David Allbritton said yesterday that he plans to vote no to selling S. Garden Avenue to the Church of Scientology. And we wanted to make sure people understood what’s at stake with a little visual aid. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading Visualizing how a surprising no vote from Clearwater affects Scientology’s plans

Leaked document: How Scientology handled a journalist’s uncomfortable questions

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We have another fascinating document that was dug up by a team of researchers which has been helping us out. This time, we get a peek inside what it’s like when Scientology deals with uncomfortable questions from a reporter, and how to spin the news as much as possible. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

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On Mother’s Day 2025, the moms who defy Scientology’s cruel ‘disconnection’ policy

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Is any holiday more anathema to Scientology than Mother’s Day? In L. Ron Hubbard’s scheme the family unit is a fiction, a temporary assembly of ‘thetans,’ and the church enforces discipline by cruelly ripping families apart. Again we’re honoring the moms who defy this madness. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading On Mother’s Day 2025, the moms who defy Scientology’s cruel ‘disconnection’ policy

AUDIO: Scientology’s David Miscavige presents plans for ‘L. Ron Hubbard Hall’

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Thanks to Mark Bunker, we now have some audio from Scientology’s L. Ron Hubbard Birthday Celebration held in March. And in particular, the moment when church leader David Miscavige reveals plans for the final piece to turn a Florida city into Scientology’s Vatican. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading AUDIO: Scientology’s David Miscavige presents plans for ‘L. Ron Hubbard Hall’

Dianetics at 75: Scientology’s bible, endorsing child molestation since 1950

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Dianetics, which turns 75 today, is a vile book. In it, L. Ron Hubbard imagines that most of our problems are the result of unfaithful women and uncaring mothers having rough sex. Scientology doesn’t want you to know that until you buy a copy. And here’s the worst thing in it. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading Dianetics at 75: Scientology’s bible, endorsing child molestation since 1950

Dianetics 75: What the Nobel physicist got out of Scientology’s bible

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: As we count down to the 75th anniversary of Dianetics tomorrow, we’ve heard from readers about various reviews written soon after the 1950 appearance of L. Ron Hubbard’s magnum opus, the book that led to Scientology. But for us there is one review that towers above the rest. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading Dianetics 75: What the Nobel physicist got out of Scientology’s bible

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