Some links to Q-related items today

Guests applaud Trump entering the dining room of his golf club today.

Natalie Harp, the devoted aide who leaves him personal messages, was also there. pic.twitter.com/XqL4mupnOw

— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 28, 2026

As Natalie Harp and others followed Trump upstairs [...]]]>

 
Some links to Q-related items today

 
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.

 
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.

Posted by Tony Ortega on June 28, 2026 at 08:00

 TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The Tampa Bay Times had a raucous piece about Scientology in Clearwater, this time about some sniping going on between local politicians there. We asked [...]]]>

 
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The Tampa Bay Times had a raucous piece about Scientology in Clearwater, this time about some sniping going on between local politicians there. We asked Mark Bunker, who his running again to be on the city council, to help us make sense of what’s going on down there. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

 
——————–

Technology Cocktail

“The original goal was to provide expedition commanders and doctors with a therapy tool which would increase the efficiency of personnel and reduce incidence of personnel failure. Dianetics, after eleven years of research and testing, bit off a trifle more than it had bargained for. There had been no intention to go holistic and solve the ills of mankind. That it began to cure psychosomatic illnesses such as arthritis, migraine, ulcers, coronary, asthma, frostbite, bursitis, allergies, etc., etc., that it did quick things about mental derangement on the institutional level and began to replace that strange barbarism, the prefrontal lobotomy, was entirely outside the initial scheme of research. That it would now sail off on a new course to chase down the cause of cancer and cure it was not on the chart. If it does these things, as it appears to be doing, it is in the medical and psychiatric province. No such intentions existed when the Terra Incognita of the mind was explored for its answers. It was intended as a tool for the expedition commander and doctor who are faced with choosing personnel and maintaining that personnel in good health. It is hoped that to these it will be of good value. If it is not, then despite acclaim, it will in some measure have failed.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950

 
——————–

Source Code

“In Dianetics, if you don’t think you could produce ‘therapies’ which would produce convulsions, break people out in rashes, make them walk on the ceiling and have their ears rot off, you are foolish. You definitely could. You are working here with the basic tools; you are working with what is wrong. And when you are working with what is really wrong with the human psyche, you can of course just specialize in making it more wrong. For instance, you can take a preclear down the time track and turn on a fever that won’t turn off for two or three days. That is spectacular! You can actually send him down the time track and get him into a fever engram and take his temperature or see that his skin is very hot to the touch, and he will have a fever.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 28, 1951

 
——————–

Avast, Ye Mateys

“THE ENEMY: Nelson Rockefeller finances and pushes forward the Totalitarian idea of Population Control by Psychiatry and his foundations try to shove us around. In the news he and his family interests are under heavy attack in South America. Rhodesia’s anti-Ron government just gets in deeper and deeper. I wrote Smith a Constitution permitting black representation while maintaining white interests that Britain and the Rhodesian white both would have bought. The govt answer was refusal to extend my visa. That the people of Rhodesia remained on our side is attested by three orgs there now. That Smith is on the side of psychiatry is attested by a new big psychiatric clinic next door to the jail. The enemy is having a very hard time. He is going counter to a world where comm is pushing freedom into being. We are going with the flood tide of world opinion. The enemy is floundering against it. We only have to expand and endure to win.” — The Commodore, June 28, 1969

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“We all are just being happy slaves without even noticing. I hear Scientologists say ‘In my next lifetime I am going to…’ They actually want a next lifetime with all package included: being born again, not being able to talk or walk for a very long time, having to be taken care of, studying all over again what you already studied, possibly (if you are Pre-OT) getting back in Scientology when you are already an adult and doing some of the services all over again till you cognite you are a past-life Scientologist and even so requiring sometimes long hours of auditing to get your memory back, etc. I know some have been fortunate to discover it fast and even being able to pick up a Scientologist family, but that has not been the norm. Scientology is supposed to end the long cycle of death and birth, not to promote it. Will someone please explain to me where is the freedom in that?”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

2001: The Wall Street Journal reported that the FBI expanded its investigation into Scientologist Reed Slatkin to include another Scientologist who may be involved in the Ponzi scheme. “In a widening probe into the money-management activities of EarthLink Inc. co-founder Reed Slatkin, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said it searched the home of Ronald Rakow, a neighbor of Mr. Slatkin. Federal agents spent eight hours Monday in the Santa Barbara, Calif., home of Mr. Rakow, a onetime road manager of the Grateful Dead who presented himself to some investors as a business colleague of Mr. Slatkin. Among the items sought were business and financial records for at least 10 entities operated by Mr. Slatkin or Mr. Rakow ‘for the purported purpose of investing money for others since 1986 using Slatkin investor funds.'”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“Two eggs over easy, hash browns, and either two Italian sausage or four bangers and dark rye toast. Thanks. Oh, and a double tequila sunrise in a pint glass.”

 
——————–

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 now fully briefed, oral arguments scheduled for June 25. 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. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal, which is now fully briefed. Oral arguments hearing set for July 23.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ 15 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. Scientology expected to file additional petitions before case can return 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.

 
——————–

 
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?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] SCIENTOLOGY BLINKS AGAIN: Tries to withdraw before embarrassing ‘no’ vote
[TWO years ago] Scientology may deny it exists, but here’s a recent example of the ‘drop the body assist’
[THREE years ago] Jon Atack takes issue with new theory about Charles Manson that ignores Scientology
[FOUR years ago] Odd coincidence: For now, Paul Haggis and Danny Masterson both have trial dates of Oct 11
[FIVE years ago] Ron Miscavige, Scientology whistleblower and father of the church leader, 1936-2021
[SIX years ago] Scientology will see you now! Orgs are reopening in safe and not so safe places
[SEVEN years ago] Your brain on Scientology: ‘I am the hurricane’
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology rock ‘n’ roller goes back to his days with L. Ron Hubbard at sea
[NINE years ago] Federal judge tells Scientology to cool its jets, says arbitration is ‘imminent’
[TEN years ago] How Google is getting gamed in the fight both for and against the Church of Scientology
[ELEVEN years ago] Project Normandy, 2015: Paulette Cooper has landed in Clearwater — Scientology’s ‘Mecca’
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology’s secret plan to take over the world — here it is!
[THIRTEEN years ago] Blogging Scientology’s Bible: Vance, We’ve Reached the Finish Line!

 
——————–

 
——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on June 28, 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, 1995-2024 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)

Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates.

 

Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone

 Some links to Q-related items today

Confederate flags on display at Trump’s “Great American State Fair” pic.twitter.com/N6lqxjY5x1

— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 26, 2026

Reflecting Pool Sealant Supplier Jokes About Algae in Instagram Comments

Rhino Linings: “Algae is not one of our product features. 😆.”https://t.co/ahW7Xhfjmnhttps://t.co/ahW7Xhfjmn

— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 [...]]]>

 
Some links to Q-related items today

 
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.

 
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.

Posted by Tony Ortega on June 27, 2026 at 08:00

 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 asked the California Supreme Court to find out why an appeals court didn’t sanction law firm Boies Schiller for an AI debacle [...]]]>

 
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 asked the California Supreme Court to find out why an appeals court didn’t sanction law firm Boies Schiller for an AI debacle in the Danny Masterson lawsuit. We’re curious about that too, but Scientology is also asking for much more. We have the entire petition. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

 
——————–

Technology Cocktail

“Dianetics has been variously tested and has been found to work uniformly and predictably in all cases. There are many more aspects to it than have been elucidated here, but it is possible to use just these facts to obtain excellent results. In a true, complete erasure of past moments of unconsciousness, the comanome disappears
utterly. In the above case it will probably only alleviate, return slightly in three days and then reduce to a null level of reaction and stay that way, no longer affecting the patient. The science has the virtue that it can be worked by any intelligent man after only a few weeks of study. That is, for the entire art of clearing a case. An intelligent man could learn all he needed to know about alleviation of a case in a few hours of reading.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950

 
——————–

Source Code

“You’d feel awfully strange if a robot clanked into the room, sat down in the auditing chair and began to pump your hand. As a matter of fact, you’d feel a little queasy. And in view of the fact that this has probably happened quite often on the track, that a robot walked in and started to dismantle you or something of the sort because you’d just had your doll body revoked, you react very badly to something that doesn’t communicate. You probably wouldn’t even object to the robot dismantling your doll body if he came in and said, ‘Well, I got an order here from the general council that you, having been guilty of mopery and dopery in high space, are herewith deprived of one doll body, and we’re going to take it apart and leave it on the bench for seventy-two hours.’ No, that’s what I used to do. This is a different one.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 27, 1961

 
——————–

Avast, Ye Mateys

“I’ve just had a grand slam across the boards on C/S. With Belkacem auditing most, some by Dusty Rhodes and one by Otto, we really swept it up 100%. Two Very Well Dones and the rest Well Dones. And not easy C/Ses to do either. Boy can we get auditing done. Rest of you students better get going. You’ve got a lot to live up to with the standard now being set.” — The Commodore, June 27, 1969

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“You are a rabble rouser, a trouble maker, you were kicked out of the Church a very long time ago for that reason! That is why you left in the 70’s, your Tech is not even up to date and you never finished the Class VI course, that is why you don’t have a cert to show. You need a serious ethics handling because you have no qualms in lying.”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

2000: Mark Bunker reported on a hearing in Clearwater on the downtown development plan. “Who should be there when we arrive but Al Buttnor sitting toward the rear of the house. When it was time for questions, one fellow said it looks like the developers are going to own Clearwater with the sweetheart deal the city is giving them. A short time later, I stood to speak and addressed that point. ‘To the gentlemen who is concerned that the developers are going to own Clearwater, you don’t have to worry. The city is already owned by Scientology.’ This got a thunderous round of applause and laughter. Later another woman brought up Scientology and her concerns that Scientology would be profiting from this plan. The developer explained that he viewed Scientology as the competition since they own so many of the empty buildings and he felt they would undercut him when he went to lease his space. I spoke from the back without benefit of a mic, ‘Yet you’ve been working closely with the Scientologists. One newspaper article wrote how pleased you were that Scientology was bending over backwards to sell their property to you to make this happen.’ He explained that he had more dealing with the Baptist Church and really dealt with Scientology’s attorneys for most of their interactions.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“You ever get up in front of 6,000 people who want to murder your ass until you prove you’re worthy of their adulation and they are spitting and throwing bottles and everything else they can lay their hands on? Because I have on numerous occasions.”

 
——————–

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 now fully briefed, oral arguments scheduled for June 25. 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. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal, which is now fully briefed. Oral arguments hearing set for July 23.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ 15 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. Scientology expected to file additional petitions before case can return 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.

 
——————–

 
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?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] The Holocaust deniers and Scientology: Lingering questions about a connection
[TWO years ago] Swiss authorities charge former Scientology donor, set trial date
[THREE years ago] Report: LAPD covered up that Shelly Miscavige’s fingerprints didn’t match in 2013
[FOUR years ago] After ‘Roe,’ can Scientology continue to force Sea Org women into unwanted abortions?
[FIVE years ago] More minor Scientology celebrities making news, and not in a good way
[SIX years ago] The private eye who started out working for Danny Masterson & now may testify against him
[SEVEN years ago] Tommy Davis is tying the knot in Morocco, and we didn’t get an invite
[EIGHT years ago] In the Sea Org, no one can hear you scream: Another small slice of Scientology horror
[NINE years ago] REPORT: David Miscavige has not been to Scientology’s secretive ‘Int Base’ in four years
[TEN years ago] Leah Remini is shooting a TV series about Scientology
[ELEVEN years ago] Did Scientology hire the man sent to prison for hacking us? Not his job to find out, judge said
[TWELVE years ago] Here’s a reminder of Scientology’s Cold War origins — L. Ron Hubbard on radiation!
[THIRTEEN years ago] Judge Whittemore Sets Evidentiary Hearing in Garcia Federal Fraud Lawsuit

 
——————–

 
——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on June 27, 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, 1995-2024 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)

Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates.

 

Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone

 Some links to Q-related items today

*Hand picked “farmers” who won’t call him out https://t.co/SJjIpBNgz1

— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 25, 2026

A truly evil lie that will give farmers false hope. https://t.co/Z3GBBtSsqD pic.twitter.com/useTVwQGhZ

— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) June 25, 2026

If someone reach down and [...]]]>

 
Some links to Q-related items today

 
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.

 
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.

Posted by Tony Ortega on June 26, 2026 at 08:00

 TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The hearing in Danny Masterson’s criminal appeal in Los Angeles yesterday was a pretty interesting contest between two very skillful attorneys who each acquitted themselves quite well. And now, [...]]]>

 
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The hearing in Danny Masterson’s criminal appeal in Los Angeles yesterday was a pretty interesting contest between two very skillful attorneys who each acquitted themselves quite well. And now, here’s the full transcript. Let the Monday Morning Quarterbacking begin! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

 
——————–

Technology Cocktail

“Taking a man back into a geographical area where he has many times been may be profitable from an experience standpoint, but a record of accidents and misadventures in that area would be a definite point of consideration. While it would not mean entirely that a man was a bad risk, there is a double factor involved. He might have had his accidents because he contained a variety of comanomes which commanded that he have accidents (the accident prone is the extreme case) and having had accidents in the area he probably gained several comanomes there which would reduce his efficiency in that area. A man whose service in point of experience would be invaluable to an expedition might be, in point of potential aberration, a risk to that expedition. There is a remedy for such a valuable man: he can be cleared of his comanomes, in which case his past record of accidents and failures becomes entirely invalid as a criteria for future conduct.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950

 
——————–

Source Code

“The president of a law school had been employed to obtain this warrant and the Chief Federal United States Marshal, I think they have a sort of a feeling like they’re still western marshals or something. They go around with big guns hanging on them and so forth. The only trouble is they normally pick people off Skid Row to have these jobs, and it’s rather incongruous, you see. And this fellow, he was utterly mad-dogging because he was sure that I had just beaten up two of his marshals. Actually, I hadn’t beaten up a marshal. I had taken the gun away from one and told him how to use it and put it back in his holster, because I thought he would get into trouble. I explained it to him. I said, ‘You’ll get in trouble waving that about and so forth; and this is the hammer, and this is the trigger.’ And he handed it over to me, and I said, ‘These are the butt plates, and there’s the ammunition,’ and so forth, and slid the cartridges out of the chamber and told him to put them in his pocket, and put the gun back. Nobody was picking on him, and it was all all right, and he did it. You think I’m kidding you, but he did it. ” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 26, 1961

 
——————–

Avast, Ye Mateys

“There’s lots of good work being done — it’s in the majority. For instance the great majority of sessions today were excellent. And on changing anchorage all hands, bow and stern anchors, there wasn’t a single flub. And I had a fresh lobster dinner beautifully done. And several people handled the naval visit beautifully indeed. So I can quote an old poem: A HEALTH UNTO THE HAPPY/A FIG FOR HE WHO FRETS.” — The Commodore, June 26, 1969

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“Only a few have made it to class VIII, yet many allege they made it! By themselves! In the Freezone! Imagine that! If it is hard work with course supervisors, a CS, word Clearers, false data stripping and a whole org behind you! I cannot imagine it in the FZ! No, those are just cons!”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

1999: The Calgary Herald published an article on Scientology celebrity John Travolta’s new movie, Battlefield Earth, now revealed as the first of two movies. “For years, John Travolta has wanted to produce a film version of Battlefield Earth, the epic science-fiction novel by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. But Travolta says people are wrong if they perceive the project — which finally starts shooting this summer in Montreal — as a piece of Scientology propaganda. ‘This is not about him — it’s a science-fiction story,’ Travolta protests. He says many people don’t realize that Hubbard was a major writer of science fiction and fantasy before he founded the Church of Scientology. He started writing in 1937 and in 1938 got his first sci-fi deal with a big book company. This is what he did initially to make a living and it’s how he was able to finance his research into Scientology years later.’ Travolta, one of Hollywood’s most prominent Scientologists, says Battlefield Earth was Hubbard’s biggest success, and continues to sell well in 23 countries. ‘We’re talking about a monster book, and to me that has nothing to do with Scientology.'”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“You’re the bees knees, i-Betty. You’re the one.”

 
——————–

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 now fully briefed, oral arguments scheduled for June 25. 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. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal, which is now fully briefed. Oral arguments hearing set for July 23.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ 15 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. Scientology expected to file additional petitions before case can return 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.

 
——————–

 
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?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientologists behaving badly: A legal rundown
[TWO years ago] Valeska Paris cites new Supreme Court opinion, asks court to reconsider arbitration ruling
[THREE years ago] Rizza Islam defiant as his trial on Medi-Cal fraud begins today
[FOUR years ago] Scientology is uniting vastly different countries to take over the world!
[FIVE years ago] Scientology to US Supreme Court: Valerie Haney predicament is not a First Amendment case
[SIX years ago] Derek Bloch: Why is Scientology keeping a dying mother away from her son?
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology destroyed her family, but this former Sea Org worker has a surprise ending
[EIGHT years ago] VIDEO: ‘Chicago Fire’ star Christian Stolte’s tribute to Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s sneaky strategy: Suck up to police departments through ‘Drug-Free’ campaigns
[TEN years ago] David Miscavige gets ribbon-happy in Florida: It’s the Scientology social media review!
[ELEVEN years ago] Jefferson Hawkins on how Scientology closes minds — a new podcast
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology has a new recruitment video to get you to sign up for a billion years!
[THIRTEEN years ago] JUSTICE KENNEDY DENIES SCIENTOLOGY REQUEST FOR STAY IN FORCED-ABORTION CASE

 
——————–

 
——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on June 26, 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, 1995-2024 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)

Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates.

 

Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone

 Some links to Q-related items today

Are people really falling for this? https://t.co/G6zuVMCI6z

— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 25, 2026

Trump promised half price electric bills and $2 gasoline https://t.co/5445ryKcQ5

— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 25, 2026

The reflecting pool is more secure than the [...]]]>

 
Some links to Q-related items today

 
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.

 
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.

Posted by Tony Ortega on June 25, 2026 at 08:00

 TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: More than three years after his conviction, Scientology celebrity and ‘That ’70s Show’ actor Danny Masterson gets his appeal heard by three justices today in a Los Angeles courtroom and [...]]]>

 
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: More than three years after his conviction, Scientology celebrity and ‘That ’70s Show’ actor Danny Masterson gets his appeal heard by three justices today in a Los Angeles courtroom and we can all watch along online. Our expert TX Lawyer explains what he’s going to be looking for. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

 
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Technology Cocktail

“The selection of personnel who will not be subject to sullen or hostile behavior and who will not become ill under various climatic conditions depends in a large measure on the perceptions of the individual. If an individual can recall things he has heard by simply hearing them again (audio imagery), if he can recall things he has seen simply by seeing them again, in color, in his mind (visio imagery), if he can imagine in terms of color-visio and tone-audio (imagine in terms of color motion pictures with sound) and if he can recall his father and mother as of early childhood, the chances are very good that he will prove to be a very stable man. Additionally, he should prove to be, within the limits of his intelligence and physical being,, an able man. Unfortunately, such persons are quite rare. If a man has definite anger patterns, worries about things and has unthinking prejudices, he may prove difficult, for these are the outward manifestations of a large reactive mind.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950

 
——————–

Source Code

“How would you like to go into the archives of some space opera society, all of which is delivered to your hand. And these, by the way, are quite interesting as archives. Operated one about 612 million years ago, something like that, which was quite interesting. Card-file systems were all stored in a basement. And I think the basement of that computer room was about the size of Chicago. And the machines which read that occupied an area — just the machines which read it — that’s, you know, the final results appeared on and so forth, looked like seven or eight Grand Central Stations. You know, just the banks of machines. And the reanalysis machines on that were all composed in a little hut that was about a thousand feet long by about four hundred feet wide. And everything was all done on automatic card shuttles, and pneumatic tubes and comparisons. And these IBM machines down here look something like a child’s hurdy-gurdy or something, compared to one of these other machines. These machines could get the finest, tiniest difference between a umph and a umph. And then they could get all things that had the tiniest association with umph and umph. You talk about your smallest and your largest magnitude of comparison — tremendous, see.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 25, 1963

 
——————–

Avast, Ye Mateys

“SOUTH AFRICANS: Ever since SA refused me a visa South Africans aren’t allowed to enter this country and many others. This of course is pure coincidence? Anyway, we’re routing them now to EULO which has orders to start an OEC. Why doesn’t somebody tell people we’re trying to better SA? That country needs friends, man. And so does its populace. Did you know that only in those countries where Nazis infiltrated have we had any trouble. Yes. You read that right.” — The Commodore June 25, 1971

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“I think Auditors are very valuable and courageous, so no one has a right to fight any Auditor at this point. I also think that the world is in a dire spot. AI is moving in at incredible pace and together with it Automaticity. Supposedly we are fighting Automaticity with Analyticalness. This is what Philosophy does. Wisdom finds ways to handle situations in safe and swift ways. We have moved out from a Church which has lost its grip on that Wisdom. We are all courageous enough to do that. We should grant that beingness to each other and especially to the Auditors. The problem of the Freezone is a problem of Management.”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

1998: The Goteborgs-Posten carried an editorial on the Swedish court decision to keep the secret NOTS materials available at the Parliament. “It is good that ‘Regeringsratten’ [the Supreme Administrative Court] last Thursday decided to not accept the Government decision to seal the so called scientology bible. The Court stated that ‘offentlighetsprincipen’ in this case is senior to the law on secrecy. The book had been handed in to the Government and the Parliament, and thus become a public document. But the Government gave in to pressure from the U.S. The reason given was that making the document public violated the interests of the scientologists, and would conflict with Sweden’s undertakings in international treaties. The scientologists are striving to protect themselves from the light of publicity, by calling themselves a religious organization, a church. Accordingly, the book is called religious materials. The business idea is to lure people into participating in expensive courses, where the thesis is that human development is hindered by aliens. It is of course important that an activity of this kind, that exploits the insecurity of, and searching for answers by individuals, may be exposed through open information and public debate. It is not a coincidence that Germany has refused to accept the religious label of this organization. It should not be possible to abuse the stamp of secrecy for the purpose of increasing profits in this kind of activity.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“I understand where you’re coming from, but the bottom line is that Scientology is a con, and conning people is illegal regardless of whether the victims are dupes and suckers.”

 
——————–

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 now fully briefed, oral arguments scheduled for June 25. 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. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal, which is now fully briefed. Oral arguments hearing set for July 23.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ 15 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. Scientology expected to file additional petitions before case can return 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.

 
——————–

 
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?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] After ditching Scientology: Joy Villa on hanging with the Cruise and Travolta kids
[TWO years ago] Scientology’s latest price list: How much will it cost you to fly, space cadet?
[THREE years ago] Secrets of Scientology’s most secretive branch: CST and its strange vaults
[FOUR years ago] Scientology’s own publication shows how much David Miscavige worship is growing
[FIVE years ago] Scientology 50 & 21 years ago today: The strange deaths of Susan Meister & Stacy Moxon
[SIX years ago] Danny Masterson finds himself in a changed era, but his victims came forward before #MeToo
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology is desperate to get its clutches on your children. Here’s proof.
[EIGHT years ago] Did a little sunlight send Scientologists scattering for cover? An international update.
[NINE years ago] Claire Headley on growing up in Scientology, and other HowdyCon highlights
[TEN years ago] Megan Shields, the physician Scientology used to vouch for its drug rehabs, dies of cancer
[ELEVEN years ago] MIKE RINDER AND REPORTER: MAN CONVICTED OF HACKING WAS WORKING FOR SCIENTOLOGY
[TWELVE years ago] Mike Rinder takes on Scientology’s uneven ‘Disconnection’ rules
[THIRTEEN years ago] SCIENTOLOGY ASKS U.S. SUPREME COURT FOR EMERGENCY STAY IN FORCED-ABORTION CASE

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 25, 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, 1995-2024 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)

Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates.

 

Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone

 Some links to Q-related items today

Trump called Susan Collins a loser and said she provided aid and comfort to terrorists pic.twitter.com/U4Qibk6dZQ

— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 24, 2026

Trump on UFC Fighter Bo Nickal: I'm a similar size. I weigh more than he does actually. [...]]]>

 
Some links to Q-related items today

 
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.

 
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.

Posted by Tony Ortega on June 24, 2026 at 08:00

 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 always great to hear from Wise Beard Man, Mark Bunker, who is running again for a seat on the city council in Scientology-dominated Clearwater, Florida. Here’s what he sent us after an opponent [...]]]>

 
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 always great to hear from Wise Beard Man, Mark Bunker, who is running again for a seat on the city council in Scientology-dominated Clearwater, Florida. Here’s what he sent us after an opponent took a shot at Mark’s record when he was previously on the council. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

 
——————–

Technology Cocktail

“It is quite remarkable that the various manifestations and ‘cures’ of native witchcraft and shamanism can be uniformly duplicated and bettered by a modern science like Dianetics. A comanome can bring about a mental hallucination (with a simple command like, “You can only listen to me!”) which gives a demon aspect. The individual containing such a comanome would be considered by a shaman to have within him a demon, for the demon is the only sonic memory the individual would
have. While Dianetics does not consider the brain as an electronic computing machine except for purposes of analogy, it is nevertheless a member of that class of sciences to which belong General Semantics and Cybernetics and, as a matter of fact, forms a bridge between the two. There can be as many comanomic commands as there can be words in a language and as many comanomic injuries as there can be illnesses and accidents. Therefore, it is no surprise that circuits can be set up in the brain which approximate any school of witchcraft, shamanism and religion known to Man. The Banks Islander sitting around talking to his deceased relatives and getting answers would be found, on examination, to have a fine array of comanomes and a very active reactive mind.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950

 
——————–

Source Code

“A few days ago I decided I would look young. Well, how do you look young? All you do is take flesh off certain planes of the face. This is what artists do in making faces old or young. So, I selectively ran incidents until the planes of the face were smaller. Oddly enough you run out tiredness also when you do this. You can actually select off certain pieces of flesh, and change your appearance. You have with this technique the power of changing your own physiological being. You go on up, theta line running, and you have another choice: You can change beings. You could! Of course you have been growing and nurturing this body, and you are somewhat attached to it. But it is just as much an object as this eraser, and your existence with this body is something like going around holding this eraser all the time, and saying, ‘I’m the eraser.’” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 24, 1952

 
——————–

Avast, Ye Mateys

“TROUBLE: The fastest possible way for a senior to get into trouble is to fail to get in Ethics on a downstat junior. The US ‘solves’ all this with huge government pay offs and propitiation. And look at the upsurge of riots. Capitalism works only on the reward side. It takes two sides to make a game. If an I/C lets Ethics go out on his juniors he pulls the rug out from under himself — and slaughters the juniors also. A team is composed of teammates. Those who mess up the team aren’t teammates. The decline of the FSO and FAO WHY is really — the seniors let ethics go out on their juniors and sought to be ‘good fellows.’ This dumped the lot back onto me. The VFP of our 3 orgs is not juniors who think their seniors are good fellows. And it isn’t ‘good fellows’ either. Effective SO Members is one of our VFPs. We have some. We will have more.” — The Commodore, June 24, 1971

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“There have been big efforts to solve the mystery of the Third Parties on the independent field. The big outpoint has always been OSA’s false reports, false information and black propaganda furnished in bigoted websites. Indies resorting to those websites to attack other indies should be considered OSA collaborators.”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

1997: Reuters reported that tennis star Boris Becker has threatened legal action against Scientology for using his picture and comments on the Internet to criticize Germany’s tolerance of minorities. “The organisation, which Germany views as anti-democratic and has put under intelligence surveillance, has a picture of Becker and his black wife Barbara at the top of an article headed ‘The Trouble with Intolerance.’ A Scientology spokesman said it had not reported anything more than Becker himself said in an interview last year when he said he planned to move to the United States when his son reached school age. The article, with the sub-heading ‘For many minorities, living in Germany means living in fear,’ cited Becker as an example of someone who had suffered ‘years of intolerance and abuse, apparently owing to the fact that his wife is black.’ Becker’s Munich-based lawyers demanded Scientology withdraw all reference to the former Wimbledon champion and pledge not to use his picture again. ‘Boris Becker is in no way prepared to promote the aims of your organisation in any manner,’ the lawyers said in a letter addressed to the Church of Scientology International in London. Scientology spokesman Georg Stoffel said it had used the reference to Becker because it wanted to draw attention to examples of alleged discrimination in Germany — both against its own members and other people. ‘We campaign for the rights of all minorities,’ he said. ‘This was just one example.’ Becker’s lawyers said they hoped their letter to Scientology would have a positive outcome. ‘We would note now, however, that we reserve the right to take the necessary legal steps if this case is repeated,’ they said. Stoffel said he had not yet been informed about the letter and could not speculate whether Scientology would cooperate with Becker’s request. He said he thought the story had been blown out of proportion, adding: ‘It’s been raining for days in Wimbledon and I think the journalists are desperately looking for something to write about.'”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

 
——————–

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 now fully briefed, oral arguments scheduled for June 25. 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. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal, which is now fully briefed. Oral arguments hearing set for July 23.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ 15 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. Scientology expected to file additional petitions before case can return 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.

 
——————–

 
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?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientology documents: Church freakout over the Tom Cruise-Brooke Shields feud
[TWO years ago] Why Tom Cruise’s abandonment of Suri for Scientology is even worse than most realize
[THREE years ago] UNSEALED: Jane Doe 1 sues Scientology for sex assault at 16 by Sea Org groomer
[FOUR years ago] Scientologist scammer, long on the run, ends up murdered in Mexico
[FIVE years ago] His son may rule moneyed Scientology, but Ron Miscavige needs help to pay for his own funeral
[SIX years ago] Danny Masterson’s Scientology upbringing: An interview with his former stepdad, Joe Reaiche
[SEVEN years ago] YouTube permanently shutters channel that exposed Scientology’s bigotry
[EIGHT years ago] Coming soon, our collaboration with ‘Miss Lovely’ herself, Paulette Cooper!
[NINE years ago] Scientology watchers, one mile high: HowdyCon 2017’s big night is here
[TEN years ago] Scientology stealth opening: Tomorrow, David Miscavige will dedicate two buildings in Florida
[ELEVEN years ago] A rundown on the truth being delivered at the Toronto Scientology conference
[TWELVE years ago] UP THE BRIDGE: We finally reach ‘OT 8’ — but was its first version really a hoax?
[THIRTEEN years ago] Laura D to Scientology: It’s Too Late for a Protective Order in Forced-Abortion Case

 
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——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on June 24, 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, 1995-2024 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)

Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates.

 

Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone