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One year ago: The sentencing hearing that put Scientology celeb Danny Masterson away

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We couldn’t be in Judge Olmedo’s court for Danny Masterson’s sentencing, but we obtained the transcript of what was said that day. So on the anniversary of the hearing that put away Masterson for 30 years to life, here again are the statements made that day by his brave victims. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading One year ago: The sentencing hearing that put Scientology celeb Danny Masterson away

Uncovering Scientology schemers: A tale of journalistic perseverance

[From Libération’s illustration by Xavier Lissillour]

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: A Scientologist indicted for running a company into the ground with Scientology techniques turns out to be behind another questionable scheme. Fortunately for the public, a reporter has been tracking this schemer for a decade. ALSO: Linkin Park fans have reason to be outraged. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading Uncovering Scientology schemers: A tale of journalistic perseverance

She made Scientology pay for its harassment: How did Bonnie Woods do it?

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: It’s been far too long since we’ve mentioned Bonnie Woods, the woman who in 1999 won a legendary court case that resulted in the Church of Scientology not only paying her damages for harassing her, but also apologizing to her. She discusses her victory in a new video. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading She made Scientology pay for its harassment: How did Bonnie Woods do it?

Scientology’s sneaky front groups keep doing their thing — and some are succeeding

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: No matter how challenging things have been for Scientology, it never gives up. You can always count on its sneaky front groups, for instance, to insinuate themselves no matter how many times they’ve been exposed as tentacles of the church. Let’s look at a few recent examples. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading Scientology’s sneaky front groups keep doing their thing — and some are succeeding

Scientology’s founder in King Arthur’s Court: When Ron ran for the hills!

 
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: It’s one of our favorite anecdotes about Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard from Russell Miller’s wonderful biography, ‘Bare-Faced Messiah,’ and now we have a fun bonus to go along with it. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading Scientology’s founder in King Arthur’s Court: When Ron ran for the hills!

Scientology encounters rough waters in northern seas

[The Naddoddur]

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We hope our American readers are enjoying their long holiday weekend and will not mind too much if we bring your attention to another part of the Scientology world today, where the church has run into some serious headwinds. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading Scientology encounters rough waters in northern seas

New details have emerged of mass Scientology fraud, the ‘Chase Wave’

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: In late 2021 we started to hear about a stunning fraud in Scientology, a method for obtaining multiple credit cards for Scientologists who had little or no credit. It even had a name: The Chase Wave. Now, we have new details about how this mass swindle took place. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading New details have emerged of mass Scientology fraud, the ‘Chase Wave’

Leah Remini announces divorce in the most Leah Remini way possible

[Remember the TLC series ‘It’s All Relative’?]

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: After Leah Remini posted last night that she and Angelo Pagan were amicably divorcing, there were stories on every entertainment outlet possible. And what a Leah Remini move: A touching message that is a perfect example of why we have respected and admired this woman for so long. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading Leah Remini announces divorce in the most Leah Remini way possible

He was in Scientology’s highest circles, but when he left he paid the price so many do

Scientology restarts ‘Celebrity,’ but spills underage confession in ‘Source’

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Scientology has finally restarted its ‘Celebrity’ magazine, which was a victim of the pandemic. But we found an even more startling confession in another of its publications. ALSO: Bunker subscribers get first access to a new pop song about a certain Deadbeat celebrity! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

Continue reading Scientology restarts ‘Celebrity,’ but spills underage confession in ‘Source’