Alice McCool
@mccoolingtons.bsky.social
❌ On sick leave ❌ Journalist + feminist. Investigative reporter at The Nerve. Formerly Good Law Project. Other bylines inc The Guardian, CNN, Dazed, TIME Magazine. They/them.
www.alicemccool.com
www.alicemccool.com
Pinned
Alice McCool
@mccoolingtons.bsky.social
· Jul 22
Liz Truss, dark money and the gen-Z Catholics: who’s behind CPAC in the UK?
The British debut of Maga’s favourite conference last week was widely seen as a joke. But a Nerve investigation reveals its young organisers are part of a web of culture-war connections – from the US ...
www.thenerve.news
NEW: CPAC GB last week was written off as a flop. But the network behind it is no joke...
My latest investigation for @thenerve.news on its right wing Catholic Gen Z organisers + the web of global dark money forces around them, from US Christian Right to Hungary: www.thenerve.news/p/cpac-confe...
My latest investigation for @thenerve.news on its right wing Catholic Gen Z organisers + the web of global dark money forces around them, from US Christian Right to Hungary: www.thenerve.news/p/cpac-confe...
Reposted by Alice McCool
"Liberia says it will receive up to 1,200 people deported from the US, including Africans and nationals from South America and the Caribbean. The agreement makes Liberia the 14th African country to sign a deportation deal with Washington."
How Africa has become part of America's deportation strategy | DW News
YouTube video by DW News
youtu.be
August 21, 2026 at 4:42 AM
"Liberia says it will receive up to 1,200 people deported from the US, including Africans and nationals from South America and the Caribbean. The agreement makes Liberia the 14th African country to sign a deportation deal with Washington."
Reposted by Alice McCool
One thing I wish people would realize is just how central JK Rowling is to the entire anti-trans ecosystem. Looking at a network node analysis of the top 200 anti-trans X accounts, she is the most central figure spanning both sides of the Atlantic from Republicans to Labour.
August 19, 2026 at 11:59 PM
One thing I wish people would realize is just how central JK Rowling is to the entire anti-trans ecosystem. Looking at a network node analysis of the top 200 anti-trans X accounts, she is the most central figure spanning both sides of the Atlantic from Republicans to Labour.
Fascinating explainer by the brilliant @garnethenderson.com into an ADF supported case in the US.
In the UK, ADF (which was central to overturning US abortion rights) has been directly linked to Nigel Farage and has threatened to sue community sports group Parkrun for their trans-inclusive policy.
In the UK, ADF (which was central to overturning US abortion rights) has been directly linked to Nigel Farage and has threatened to sue community sports group Parkrun for their trans-inclusive policy.
But did you know that West is represented by Christian nationalist law firm Alliance Defending Freedom, and was apparently connected with them by the extremist anti-abortion organization Live Action, which wants to ban surrogacy and IVF? I explained on TikTok:
A surrogate ran to Texas to escape a forced abortion. But is that the whole story? How anti-abortion groups that want to ban surrogacy and IVF are manipulating you.
TikTok video by Garnet Henderson
www.tiktok.com
August 14, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Fascinating explainer by the brilliant @garnethenderson.com into an ADF supported case in the US.
In the UK, ADF (which was central to overturning US abortion rights) has been directly linked to Nigel Farage and has threatened to sue community sports group Parkrun for their trans-inclusive policy.
In the UK, ADF (which was central to overturning US abortion rights) has been directly linked to Nigel Farage and has threatened to sue community sports group Parkrun for their trans-inclusive policy.
Reposted by Alice McCool
Well this is dark.
Lawyer Joseph McBride is flooding the world with AI-slop memes to fight the pretrial detention of accused rapists Andrew and Tristan Tate. @annamerlan.bsky.social pulled up his legal resumé and it's 👀
Lawyer Joseph McBride is flooding the world with AI-slop memes to fight the pretrial detention of accused rapists Andrew and Tristan Tate. @annamerlan.bsky.social pulled up his legal resumé and it's 👀
The Tate brothers’ lawyer is on an aggressive, AI-riddled quest to win their release
Joseph McBride's strident defense of the accused rapists includes a flood of faked propaganda images.
www.motherjones.com
August 14, 2026 at 3:15 PM
Well this is dark.
Lawyer Joseph McBride is flooding the world with AI-slop memes to fight the pretrial detention of accused rapists Andrew and Tristan Tate. @annamerlan.bsky.social pulled up his legal resumé and it's 👀
Lawyer Joseph McBride is flooding the world with AI-slop memes to fight the pretrial detention of accused rapists Andrew and Tristan Tate. @annamerlan.bsky.social pulled up his legal resumé and it's 👀
Reposted by Alice McCool
I've been combing through Reform UK's latest party accounts.
Reform UK took more in donations in 2025 than Labour and the Lib Dems combined...twice over.
£31.9 million in donations in a non-GE year. It's staggering.
They spent a lot (over £21m) but banked over £10m. Reform's war chest = £11.9m
Reform UK took more in donations in 2025 than Labour and the Lib Dems combined...twice over.
£31.9 million in donations in a non-GE year. It's staggering.
They spent a lot (over £21m) but banked over £10m. Reform's war chest = £11.9m
August 10, 2026 at 10:06 AM
I've been combing through Reform UK's latest party accounts.
Reform UK took more in donations in 2025 than Labour and the Lib Dems combined...twice over.
£31.9 million in donations in a non-GE year. It's staggering.
They spent a lot (over £21m) but banked over £10m. Reform's war chest = £11.9m
Reform UK took more in donations in 2025 than Labour and the Lib Dems combined...twice over.
£31.9 million in donations in a non-GE year. It's staggering.
They spent a lot (over £21m) but banked over £10m. Reform's war chest = £11.9m
Reposted by Alice McCool
"Unison, Aslef, Usdaw, and the Musicians’ Union will not attend Labour Women’s Conference in September over the decision to ban trans women from formal proceedings at the event.
The unions are among Labour’s largest financial backers..."
The unions are among Labour’s largest financial backers..."
Powerful unions boycott Labour Women's Conference over trans ban
metro.co.uk
July 29, 2026 at 8:07 PM
"Unison, Aslef, Usdaw, and the Musicians’ Union will not attend Labour Women’s Conference in September over the decision to ban trans women from formal proceedings at the event.
The unions are among Labour’s largest financial backers..."
The unions are among Labour’s largest financial backers..."
Read my full investigation here: www.thenerve.news/p/cpac-confe...
Who are the young consultants importing MAGA to the UK? @mccoolingtons.bsky.social reports
July 23, 2026 at 8:49 PM
Read my full investigation here: www.thenerve.news/p/cpac-confe...
NEW: CPAC GB last week was written off as a flop. But the network behind it is no joke...
My latest investigation for @thenerve.news on its right wing Catholic Gen Z organisers + the web of global dark money forces around them, from US Christian Right to Hungary: www.thenerve.news/p/cpac-confe...
My latest investigation for @thenerve.news on its right wing Catholic Gen Z organisers + the web of global dark money forces around them, from US Christian Right to Hungary: www.thenerve.news/p/cpac-confe...
Liz Truss, dark money and the gen-Z Catholics: who’s behind CPAC in the UK?
The British debut of Maga’s favourite conference last week was widely seen as a joke. But a Nerve investigation reveals its young organisers are part of a web of culture-war connections – from the US ...
www.thenerve.news
July 22, 2026 at 8:31 AM
NEW: CPAC GB last week was written off as a flop. But the network behind it is no joke...
My latest investigation for @thenerve.news on its right wing Catholic Gen Z organisers + the web of global dark money forces around them, from US Christian Right to Hungary: www.thenerve.news/p/cpac-confe...
My latest investigation for @thenerve.news on its right wing Catholic Gen Z organisers + the web of global dark money forces around them, from US Christian Right to Hungary: www.thenerve.news/p/cpac-confe...
Reposted by Alice McCool
1/🧵EXCLUSIVE: @bylinetimes.bsky.social's six-month investigation into Reform UK's policy chief: a secret donation from Peter Thiel, Thiel's life-changing offers to Cambridge scholars, and a far-right, theocratic student recruitment drive in breach of safeguarding bylinetimes.com/2026/07/09/p...
Palantir Co-Founder Peter Thiel and Reform UK's Cambridge University Recruitment Pipeline Project Revealed
The world-renowned academic institution has nothing to say in response to a six-month investigation by Byline Times raising serious concerns about the safeguarding of students and foreign influence at...
bylinetimes.com
July 9, 2026 at 10:42 AM
1/🧵EXCLUSIVE: @bylinetimes.bsky.social's six-month investigation into Reform UK's policy chief: a secret donation from Peter Thiel, Thiel's life-changing offers to Cambridge scholars, and a far-right, theocratic student recruitment drive in breach of safeguarding bylinetimes.com/2026/07/09/p...
Reposted by Alice McCool
When human rights are under attack the role of the press should be to challenge those in power – not cheer them on.
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
UK newspapers ignore Amnesty International research on anti-trans bias
Research by human rights group identifies nearly 17,000 articles on trans-related topics in just five years
www.thebureauinvestigates.com
June 17, 2026 at 9:31 AM
When human rights are under attack the role of the press should be to challenge those in power – not cheer them on.
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
🚨 NEW: How are ultra-conservative networks infiltrating human rights in the UK?
In my latest for @goodlawproject.org I expose how the new head of the EHRC (supposed to protect our rights + equalities) in Scotland is linked to dark money funded anti-abortion groups goodlawproject.org/ehrcs-new-ch...
In my latest for @goodlawproject.org I expose how the new head of the EHRC (supposed to protect our rights + equalities) in Scotland is linked to dark money funded anti-abortion groups goodlawproject.org/ehrcs-new-ch...
EHRC’s new chair in Scotland linked to anti-abortion dark money groups | Good Law Project
Human rights watchdog appoints barrister Alasdair Henderson, despite links to groups opposing women’s and LGBTQ+ rights
goodlawproject.org
May 22, 2026 at 1:30 PM
🚨 NEW: How are ultra-conservative networks infiltrating human rights in the UK?
In my latest for @goodlawproject.org I expose how the new head of the EHRC (supposed to protect our rights + equalities) in Scotland is linked to dark money funded anti-abortion groups goodlawproject.org/ehrcs-new-ch...
In my latest for @goodlawproject.org I expose how the new head of the EHRC (supposed to protect our rights + equalities) in Scotland is linked to dark money funded anti-abortion groups goodlawproject.org/ehrcs-new-ch...
🚨 #Voting in Maida Vale today? Pls know 1 of #Reform's candidates is a recent staffer at the intl' arm of the dark money org behind the overturn of US #abortion rights.
In Dec anti-abortion/LGBT activist + Spectator contributor Lois McLatchie Miller left ADF after 7 YEARS. 1/5
In Dec anti-abortion/LGBT activist + Spectator contributor Lois McLatchie Miller left ADF after 7 YEARS. 1/5
May 7, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Cute video to go with our news! Congrats to the other new recruits @luciaoc.bsky.social @sangitamyska.bsky.social and @doctorow.pluralistic.net 🤩
You can subscribe to (or become a paying member of) @thenerve.news here: www.thenerve.news/membership
You can subscribe to (or become a paying member of) @thenerve.news here: www.thenerve.news/membership
SOME NEWS
The Nerve is six months old - and growing!
Thanks to the incredible support of our growing community of members, we are delighted to announce four major signings as we expand our team of journalists…
@pressgazette.co.uk report follows… (mini 🧵)
The Nerve is six months old - and growing!
Thanks to the incredible support of our growing community of members, we are delighted to announce four major signings as we expand our team of journalists…
@pressgazette.co.uk report follows… (mini 🧵)
May 6, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Cute video to go with our news! Congrats to the other new recruits @luciaoc.bsky.social @sangitamyska.bsky.social and @doctorow.pluralistic.net 🤩
You can subscribe to (or become a paying member of) @thenerve.news here: www.thenerve.news/membership
You can subscribe to (or become a paying member of) @thenerve.news here: www.thenerve.news/membership
🚨 I'm joining @thenerve.news! Pretty surreal to be mentioned alongside as such a talented lineup 🙈
Thanks are in order to @carolecadwalla.bsky.social for supporting me always –can't wait to learn more from you and The Nerve's other legendary all women co-founders! pressgazette.co.uk/the-wire/med...
Thanks are in order to @carolecadwalla.bsky.social for supporting me always –can't wait to learn more from you and The Nerve's other legendary all women co-founders! pressgazette.co.uk/the-wire/med...
The Nerve @thenerve.news, launched six months ago by five ex-Observer journalists including @carolecadwalla.bsky.social, is expanding its team to include
Investigative journalists @mccoolingtons.bsky.social & @luciaoc.bsky.social
Plus columnists @sangitamyska.bsky.social & @doctorow.pluralistic.net
Investigative journalists @mccoolingtons.bsky.social & @luciaoc.bsky.social
Plus columnists @sangitamyska.bsky.social & @doctorow.pluralistic.net
May 5, 2026 at 12:02 PM
🚨 I'm joining @thenerve.news! Pretty surreal to be mentioned alongside as such a talented lineup 🙈
Thanks are in order to @carolecadwalla.bsky.social for supporting me always –can't wait to learn more from you and The Nerve's other legendary all women co-founders! pressgazette.co.uk/the-wire/med...
Thanks are in order to @carolecadwalla.bsky.social for supporting me always –can't wait to learn more from you and The Nerve's other legendary all women co-founders! pressgazette.co.uk/the-wire/med...
Reposted by Alice McCool
I designed the graphics for this important story by @mccoolingtons.bsky.social and @ludovicparsons.bsky.social. Take care when reading, topic is upsetting.
Content warning: trans suicide, self-harm and death
Trans people are dying of suicide more than the general UK population our new investigation with @wearequeeraf.com shows ⬇️
https://goodlaw.social/p8ha
Trans people are dying of suicide more than the general UK population our new investigation with @wearequeeraf.com shows ⬇️
https://goodlaw.social/p8ha
April 29, 2026 at 9:50 AM
I designed the graphics for this important story by @mccoolingtons.bsky.social and @ludovicparsons.bsky.social. Take care when reading, topic is upsetting.
NEW: For months @ludovicparsons.bsky.social + I have been piecing together info on trans deaths in the UK from datasets, FOIs, coroners’ reports + interviews.
We found that trans people are disproportionately dying by suicide. Many are kids. Full investigation: goodlawproject.org/trans-people...
We found that trans people are disproportionately dying by suicide. Many are kids. Full investigation: goodlawproject.org/trans-people...
April 25, 2026 at 1:26 PM
NEW: For months @ludovicparsons.bsky.social + I have been piecing together info on trans deaths in the UK from datasets, FOIs, coroners’ reports + interviews.
We found that trans people are disproportionately dying by suicide. Many are kids. Full investigation: goodlawproject.org/trans-people...
We found that trans people are disproportionately dying by suicide. Many are kids. Full investigation: goodlawproject.org/trans-people...
Reposted by Alice McCool
We’ve spent months building a picture of trans deaths in the UK, with our lead investigative journalist @ludovicparsons.bsky.social and @mccoolingtons.bsky.social
What we found is devastating.
📩 Get the full investigation this Saturday 👇
www.wearequeeraf.com/subscribe/?u...
What we found is devastating.
📩 Get the full investigation this Saturday 👇
www.wearequeeraf.com/subscribe/?u...
April 23, 2026 at 11:31 AM
We’ve spent months building a picture of trans deaths in the UK, with our lead investigative journalist @ludovicparsons.bsky.social and @mccoolingtons.bsky.social
What we found is devastating.
📩 Get the full investigation this Saturday 👇
www.wearequeeraf.com/subscribe/?u...
What we found is devastating.
📩 Get the full investigation this Saturday 👇
www.wearequeeraf.com/subscribe/?u...
Reposted by Alice McCool
As Bluesky was down so much yesterday, am resharing in case people would like to read this piece.
It's a year today since the Supreme Court decision on the meaning of "sex" under the Equality Act 2010.
Jolyon Maugham and I have written a reflective piece with our thoughts on the judgment, everything that has happened since, and why it's so important that we are still fighting - together 👇
Jolyon Maugham and I have written a reflective piece with our thoughts on the judgment, everything that has happened since, and why it's so important that we are still fighting - together 👇
A year under attack – and a year fighting back
Jess O’Thomson and Jolyon Maugham reflect on what has happened in the year since the Supreme Court’s judgment, and how the trans community has courageously fought back
goodlaw.social
April 17, 2026 at 11:39 AM
As Bluesky was down so much yesterday, am resharing in case people would like to read this piece.
Thanks for having me @indexoncensorship.org and Pushkin House! It was really great to debrief with my v knowledgeable fellow panelists and audience following the Hungarian election result ✊👀
This week, we came together to launch our latest magazine & discuss the future of Europe following the Hungarian election. Huge thanks to everyone who join us. Special thanks to our speakers Victor Sebestyen, Colin Crouch, Alice McCool and @sallygimson.bsky.social, & to Pushkin House for having us.
April 17, 2026 at 10:45 AM
Thanks for having me @indexoncensorship.org and Pushkin House! It was really great to debrief with my v knowledgeable fellow panelists and audience following the Hungarian election result ✊👀
I’m vvv excited to be at the @journalismfestival.com in #Perugia this year for the first time! Pls give me a shout if you’d like to meet up or you're running an event I should come to!
Hopefully when you see me I won’t look so knackered - I got a night flight and sleep has passed me by 🫠 1/3
Hopefully when you see me I won’t look so knackered - I got a night flight and sleep has passed me by 🫠 1/3
April 15, 2026 at 3:06 PM
I’m vvv excited to be at the @journalismfestival.com in #Perugia this year for the first time! Pls give me a shout if you’d like to meet up or you're running an event I should come to!
Hopefully when you see me I won’t look so knackered - I got a night flight and sleep has passed me by 🫠 1/3
Hopefully when you see me I won’t look so knackered - I got a night flight and sleep has passed me by 🫠 1/3
Reposted by Alice McCool
You will* be surprised to see that prominent anti-trans campaigners are all tied up in this far-right ecosystem.
*will not
"With Orbán gone, has the British far right lost its magic money tree?"
*will not
"With Orbán gone, has the British far right lost its magic money tree?"
With Orbán gone, has the British far right lost its magic money tree?
Hungary’s new PM has described his predecessor’s funding of propaganda bodies as criminal and vowed to investigate. This could be bad news for ultraconservatives in the UK – and around the rest of the...
www.thenerve.news
April 15, 2026 at 12:32 PM
You will* be surprised to see that prominent anti-trans campaigners are all tied up in this far-right ecosystem.
*will not
"With Orbán gone, has the British far right lost its magic money tree?"
*will not
"With Orbán gone, has the British far right lost its magic money tree?"
Thank you Tim @spotlightcorruption.org for speaking to me for this piece! P.s. If anyone's interested, @timpicton.bsky.social is secretly an investigative journalist, he just won't admit it 🙃
Alice has been central to exposing the trail of the Russian oil soaked money flows from the MCC into UK politics.
Pleased to have a comment in their latest piece questioning whether UK orgs that have taken MCC funding should declare their activities with the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.
Pleased to have a comment in their latest piece questioning whether UK orgs that have taken MCC funding should declare their activities with the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.
NEW Hungary’s new PM has described Viktor Orbán’s funding of propaganda bodies as criminal and vowed to investigate.
Bad news for ultraconservatives in the UK!
Alice McCool's deep dive into Orban, his propaganda college MCC – and its links to the British right ⏬
www.thenerve.news/p/viktor-orb...
Bad news for ultraconservatives in the UK!
Alice McCool's deep dive into Orban, his propaganda college MCC – and its links to the British right ⏬
www.thenerve.news/p/viktor-orb...
April 15, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Thank you Tim @spotlightcorruption.org for speaking to me for this piece! P.s. If anyone's interested, @timpicton.bsky.social is secretly an investigative journalist, he just won't admit it 🙃
📢 NEW: #Orbán is out! What does this mean for his far-right, ultra-conservative, anti-immigration, anti-trans + anti-everything cronies? I spoke to some pros on this for
@thenerve.news + looked back at the Orbán-funded, #Reform linked UK network I uncovered for @goodlawproject.org 👀
@thenerve.news + looked back at the Orbán-funded, #Reform linked UK network I uncovered for @goodlawproject.org 👀
NEW Hungary’s new PM has described Viktor Orbán’s funding of propaganda bodies as criminal and vowed to investigate.
Bad news for ultraconservatives in the UK!
Alice McCool's deep dive into Orban, his propaganda college MCC – and its links to the British right ⏬
www.thenerve.news/p/viktor-orb...
Bad news for ultraconservatives in the UK!
Alice McCool's deep dive into Orban, his propaganda college MCC – and its links to the British right ⏬
www.thenerve.news/p/viktor-orb...
With Orbán gone, has the British far right lost its magic money tree?
Hungary’s new PM has described his predecessor’s funding of propaganda bodies as criminal and vowed to investigate. This could be bad news for ultraconservatives in the UK – and around the rest of the...
www.thenerve.news
April 15, 2026 at 11:22 AM
📢 NEW: #Orbán is out! What does this mean for his far-right, ultra-conservative, anti-immigration, anti-trans + anti-everything cronies? I spoke to some pros on this for
@thenerve.news + looked back at the Orbán-funded, #Reform linked UK network I uncovered for @goodlawproject.org 👀
@thenerve.news + looked back at the Orbán-funded, #Reform linked UK network I uncovered for @goodlawproject.org 👀
Reposted by Alice McCool
Could MattGPT face scrutiny under the UK’s ‘proceeds of crime’ law? The British right is awash with money from Orban thinktanks…which Hungary’s new PM says was stolen.
Brilliant deep dive into Orban’s vast UK network by @McCoolingtons
for @thenerve_news. 👏
Brilliant deep dive into Orban’s vast UK network by @McCoolingtons
for @thenerve_news. 👏
NEW Hungary’s new PM has described Viktor Orbán’s funding of propaganda bodies as criminal and vowed to investigate.
Bad news for ultraconservatives in the UK!
Alice McCool's deep dive into Orban, his propaganda college MCC – and its links to the British right ⏬
www.thenerve.news/p/viktor-orb...
Bad news for ultraconservatives in the UK!
Alice McCool's deep dive into Orban, his propaganda college MCC – and its links to the British right ⏬
www.thenerve.news/p/viktor-orb...
With Orbán gone, has the British far right lost its magic money tree?
Hungary’s new PM has described his predecessor’s funding of propaganda bodies as criminal and vowed to investigate. This could be bad news for ultraconservatives in the UK – and around the rest of the...
www.thenerve.news
April 14, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Could MattGPT face scrutiny under the UK’s ‘proceeds of crime’ law? The British right is awash with money from Orban thinktanks…which Hungary’s new PM says was stolen.
Brilliant deep dive into Orban’s vast UK network by @McCoolingtons
for @thenerve_news. 👏
Brilliant deep dive into Orban’s vast UK network by @McCoolingtons
for @thenerve_news. 👏
Reposted by Alice McCool
After Viktor Orbán’s loss in the weekend’s Hungarian elections, what does this moment signal for democracy, free expression and the future of Europe?
Tomorrow’s @indexoncensorship.org panel features our very own Alice McCool:
https://bit.ly/4tGXekv
Tomorrow’s @indexoncensorship.org panel features our very own Alice McCool:
https://bit.ly/4tGXekv
What Next for Europe? Hungary, Russia and the New Era of Illiberal Democracies
Talk: What Next for Europe? Hungary, Russia and the New Era of Illiberal Democracies
www.pushkinhouse.org
April 13, 2026 at 8:50 AM
After Viktor Orbán’s loss in the weekend’s Hungarian elections, what does this moment signal for democracy, free expression and the future of Europe?
Tomorrow’s @indexoncensorship.org panel features our very own Alice McCool:
https://bit.ly/4tGXekv
Tomorrow’s @indexoncensorship.org panel features our very own Alice McCool:
https://bit.ly/4tGXekv