Alex Gibney has done it again. This is a disturbing, powerful documentary that everyone in the country should watch. It details how the opioid epidemic was manufactured out of the greed of the pharmaceutical industry (all the way down to CVS). It is truly a horrifying expose. But for scientology-watchers there is a special reason for giving this a look. It shows how those with money to burn are able to buy influence over law enforcement and legislators. It is grotesque, and it is exactly what scientology has done to head off investigations in the … [Read more...]
Episode 30: Marc Headley Blown For Good
This week, Leah and I had a wonderful time talking with my old and very dear friend Marc Headley —The BFG — on our Fair Game Podcast. Marc not only has a phenomenal memory, he possesses a great sense of humor. Anyone who has read his book knows both of these things to be true. We covered plenty of ground -- talking about the Int base and David Miscavige, the infamous musical chairs incident depicted in Going Clear and even how the Rinder bobblehead came to be. Throughout I mentioned including links, you will find them below. This is definitely an episode you don't want to … [Read more...]
At Least We Know They Are Listening
STAND is obviously paying close attention to the Fair Game podcast, No sooner had the episode where we talked to Alex Gibney aired than they trotted out a new smear on him. From none other than the renowned expert, Will Seabrook. It would be interesting to ask Mr. Seabrook in person whether he has watched Going Clear. I would bet he has not. If, by chance, he has, then I would love to ask him two simple questions: What specific can you cite to classify his film as a "bigoted propaganda video"? Tell me a single fact that is wrong? It's funny, scientology has NEVER refuted the … [Read more...]
Episode 7: Emmy and Oscar Winner Alex Gibney
This week's episode of Fair Game podcast features my old friend Alex Gibney. This is not an episode to miss. Alex is one of the greats in the world of documentary filmmakers. His credits include: The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley about Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God (won 3 Emmy’s) Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (Oscar nom in 2005 for Best Doc) Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer Taxi to the Dark Side (winner of the 2007 Oscar for best Documentary) about the war in … [Read more...]
Episode 3: Scientology’s War on the Media with Richard Behar
We were very fortunate to speak with Richard Behar on this week's episode of the Fair Game podcast. Rich, along with Pauletter Cooper (who will feature in an upcoming episode) is a poster child for scientology Fair Game against journalists. He is an award-winning investigative journalist who first wrote about scientology in 1986 for Forbes magazine in an article entitled The Prophet and Profits of Scientology. His most famous scientology piece was the 1991 Time magazine cover story, The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power. The subhead on his article pretty much sums up … [Read more...]
Let the Scientology Fair Game Begin
I mentioned in my post on Sunday that I would let Leah respond to the latest bs about her from Ed Parkin. He should know by now not to poke the bear. Here is what Leah has to say. As only Leah can say it. Scientology uses a practice called Fair Game, these are directives and activities that seek to discredit and destroy anyone and anything Scientology considers a threat to their vile, illegal, and criminal practices. The practice of Fair Game by Scientology, its employees and parishioners is nothing new. It has gone on for decades. Here are some of the “Operations” carried … [Read more...]
The Hole: A List of Prisoners
There has been plenty of commentary about "The Hole" since it was first disclosed by Joe Childs and Tom Tobin in the St Petersburg Times in 2009, and again famously featured in Lawrence Wright's Going Clear book and Alex Gibney's HBO film based on the book. Scientology has asserted the Hole "does not exist and never has." But the numerous people who have witnessed it first hand and spoken about it have, to any objective observer, put scientology's denials to the sword. Miscavige even had a sign made and hung on the outside of the building to identify it clearly as "The Hole." (Where he got … [Read more...]
Scientology and TV
Scientology is taking to the airwaves (sort of) tonight. It's interesting times. They put out a press release that resulted in this story in THR: This story highlights just a few of their problems. They have nobody willing to talk to the media, and apparently these days, nobody willing to respond in any way. Not the recipe for success in this field. Every story that mentions scientology tv is going to mention Going Clear and The Aftermath -- that favor will not be returned. Scientology TV is a novelty that will be forgotten fast. A quick scan of the comments on this … [Read more...]
Scientology: Human Rights Champions or Abusers?
Scientology takes great pains to present itself to the world as a champion of human rights. Their tag line is "Making Human Rights A Global Reality." Look at their website - the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is prominently featured. And their efforts to "ensure the human rights of everyone" are mentioned extensively. Same in Freedom magazine (when it is published -- seems to have dried up of late). Videos showing their wondrous human rights programs are routinely shown at Miscavige's Nuremberg Rally events. Here is the Freedom magazine home … [Read more...]
Going Clear Oscar News
Despite the "best efforts" of the church of scientology, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today their "short list" of films up for selection in the Documentary category for this year. Dave's footbullets seem to have had the appropriate effect. Going Clear is one of the 15 included in the short list. Looking forward to January 14th to see if Going Clear is one of the final nominees. Regardless -- this is the first time in history that any scientology related film has been on anyone's list for anything -- let alone an Academy Award (after already having won … [Read more...]