Sign in

Don McGowan

@donmcgowan.bsky.social
1.1K followers 1.2K following 163 posts

Substack — donmcgowan333.substack.com Co-host of @noholdspod.bsky.social with @badassmutha.bsky.social DMs open or email: donmcgowan@pm.me. Anonymity respected, of course. noholdsbarredpod.com

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Don McGowan
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Latest article from me over at West England Bylines. My report card on Burnham's first few weeks in power. @westenglandbylines.co.uk westenglandbylines.co.uk/opinion/summ...
westenglandbylines.co.uk
Summer sea-change: Burnham’s U-turns on devolution, defence & donations
Are we in safe hands, or can we expect two years of U-turns followed by a disastrous Labour loss at the election booths in 2029?
022
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Latest article from me over at West England Bylines. My report card on Burnham's first few weeks in power. @westenglandbylines.co.uk westenglandbylines.co.uk/opinion/summ...
westenglandbylines.co.uk
Summer sea-change: Burnham’s U-turns on devolution, defence & donations
Are we in safe hands, or can we expect two years of U-turns followed by a disastrous Labour loss at the election booths in 2029?
022
Reposted by Don McGowan
No Holds Barred Pod @noholdspod.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
This week's Big Pod™ is out across all platforms. Sal and Don chatted about more Labour backtracks, Arron Banks being a gigantic racist and some of America's latest craziness. Including Trump lying about 9/11. Links below. 👇
141
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
New article by me over on @westenglandbylines.co.uk. Regulators — Who watches the watchers? An in-depth look at Ofcom and some of our other regulators. westenglandbylines.co.uk/opinion/regu...
westenglandbylines.co.uk
Regulators: who watches the watchers?
"Who watches the watchers?" is a phrase we hear a great deal but, in these dystopian times, one to which we should perhaps pay more heed
032
Reposted by Don McGowan
Badassmutha @badassmutha.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
@donmcgowan.bsky.social & I thought we'd better do a very comprehensive @noholdspod.bsky.social Reform Round Up this week👀 Might be our favourite ep so far!😂 Do enjoy & send to your pals. We've earned this schadenfreude! youtu.be/-5lxR0pQ8Ko?...
youtu.be
WEEKLY REFORM ROUNDUP — Farage Caught Red-Handed
YouTube video by No Holds Barred Pod
31210
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
My take on the unmitigated disaster that was this year’s brutal Reform UK party conference. Spoiler alert — it didn’t go well for them. 😬 donmcgowan333.substack.com/p/reform-uk-...
donmcgowan333.substack.com
Reform UK Party Conference 2026
Violence | Vanity | Vainglorious Vacuity
193
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
My musings on a summer of volte-face and reverse ferrets by the new government. Details of Burnham's claims vs. the reality, and my opinion on how things might progress. Not for faint-hearted Burnham fans. 😉 donmcgowan333.substack.com/p/summer-sea...
donmcgowan333.substack.com
Summer Sea-Change
Volte-face on Devolution, Defence & Donations.
011
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
The origin of our latest No Holds Barred Pod episode title with @louiseraw.bsky.social. Fascism: Showbiz for Ugly People. 😂 @badassmutha.bsky.social | @noholdspod.bsky.social Check it out on Spotify and drop us a follow: open.spotify.com/episode/2Fy6...
033
Reposted by Don McGowan
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Who is Malcolm Robinson? Reform UK's elusive donor. He gave the party £1,650,000 including a £1M loan but nobody knows who he actually is. I may have found him. This is a monstrous investigative essay but hopefully worth 20 mins of your time. donmcgowan333.substack.com/p/we-need-to...
donmcgowan333.substack.com
WHO IS MALCOLM?
Reform UK's Under the Radar Funder
11013
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Who is Malcolm Robinson? Reform UK's elusive donor. He gave the party £1,650,000 including a £1M loan but nobody knows who he actually is. I may have found him. This is a monstrous investigative essay but hopefully worth 20 mins of your time. donmcgowan333.substack.com/p/we-need-to...
donmcgowan333.substack.com
WHO IS MALCOLM?
Reform UK's Under the Radar Funder
11013
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Our weekly @noholdspod.bsky.social Reform Roundup is now on YouTube. @badassmutha.bsky.social and I took the Clacton By-Election to task and delivered our verdicts on the entire circus. Check it out: youtu.be/Zf-DYsRppYA
youtu.be
Weekly Reform Roundup — Clacton By-Election Special
YouTube video by No Holds Barred Pod
163
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
A new episode of our @noholdspod.bsky.social Discussion series is out. John Stevens is standing in the Clacton by-election against Farage, and he kindly gave us an hour of his busy schedule. We chatted Clacton, fascism and Lowe among loads of other topics. @therejoineuparty.com 🔗 Links below. 👇
122
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Those lovely folk over at @westenglandbylines.co.uk have published some words I wrote about Farage and his shift from messiah to very naughty boy: westenglandbylines.co.uk/politics/far...
westenglandbylines.co.uk
Farage’s free pass is finally over
Nigel Farage has weathered years of controversy with little scrutiny. Now his media immunity is finally coming to an end
21411
Reposted by Don McGowan
News Agency @news-agencyapp.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Today's Daily Briefing in synopsis, plus a sneak preview of the app that launches in September. Exciting.
023
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
A new episode of @noholdspod.bsky.social is out now across YouTube and all good pod apps. It's only me this week as @badassmutha.bsky.social is feeling unwell, so if you fancy half an hour of me wittering about Reform, Burnham and BP taking the absolute piss, links are below. Links 🔗 👇
175
Reposted by Don McGowan
News Agency @news-agencyapp.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
It's Monday but don't let that stop you getting ahead of the news. Here's today's Daily Briefing in synopsis for you. Sign up for our free daily email briefing here and our app launch will be along very soon. www.news-agency.org
022
Reposted by Don McGowan
Andy Burge 🇬🇧🇪🇺 @andygjburge.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Listen to this podcast, it's really worth your time. Sally and Don are always interesting and incisive.
3149
Reposted by Don McGowan
Badassmutha @badassmutha.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
A little update from @noholdspod.bsky.social with @donmcgowan.bsky.social on the much mooted benefits bills, including ALL the facts. Not just the selective talking points MSM stick to😤 youtu.be/dL_dqC5iuAQ?...
youtu.be
Welfare Cuts Continue
YouTube video by No Holds Barred Pod
22114
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
It was a brilliant chat, and we covered so many important topics, but had a good laugh along the way. Lord Dale is on its way for services to meteorology and climate change. 😃
010
Reposted by Don McGowan
BritWeatherSvs/Jim N R Dale @britweathersvs.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
If you have spare moment, have a listen to a no holds barred edition of Don’s & Sal’s podcast featuring moi. Loads of stuff covered, including my ‘encounters’ with Farage, Tice & Co; oh & my imminent peerage! You won’t be disappointed. 😉 @donmcgowan.bsky.social open.spotify.com/episode/2bvd...
open.spotify.com
THE GREAT GREENING - DISCUSSIONS with Jim NR Dale | EP 11
No Holds Barred Pod · Episode
074
Reposted by Don McGowan
News Agency @news-agencyapp.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Welcome to August. Here's your Daily Briefing in synopsis for today. Sign up for our free daily email briefing here and our app launch will be along very soon. news-agency.org
032
Reposted by Don McGowan
Badassmutha @badassmutha.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Rhetoric v Reality. How does Burnham really stack up? @donmcgowan.bsky.social & I pull it apart on @noholdspod.bsky.social youtu.be/VwNbJkzt7xs?...
youtu.be
Did Burnham Succeed in Manchester?
YouTube video by No Holds Barred Pod
096
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Some thoughts on Burnham’s first week as PM. And a boat load of Smiths quotes. substack.com/@donmcgowan3...
substack.com
Burnham — Boost, Bust or Bluster?
And Buses. And The Smiths.
172
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
🎙️ICYMI — Episode 99 of @NoHoldsPod is available now. @badassmutha.bsky.social and I talked a lot about Trump's ongoing push towards fascism, his lunacy over Canadian wildfire tariffs, and we made some predictions about Burnham's cabinet before they were announced. 🔗Links below. 👇
254
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
🎙️ Your Saturday dose of political honesty has arrived with EP 98 of @noholdspod.bsky.social with @badassmutha.bsky.social and I. We chatted Burnham, Farage and Clacton, plus a tweet by @liamcunningham1.bsky.social inspired me to dig into water and energy usage by data centres. 🔗 Links below. 👇
132
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
🎙️ If you fancy some light Sunday listening/watching, Episode 96 of @noholdspod.bsky.social is out now. Burnham people pleasing and Farage's performative resignation plus the breaking news, as we recorded, about Ann Widdecombe's murder. @badassmutha.bsky.social 🔗 Links below. 👇
154
Reposted by Don McGowan
No Holds Barred Pod @noholdspod.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
A new EP of our Discussions series. Dan Hatton is the founder of a news platform called News Agency. A tech powered daily briefing that removes all bias and provides the top stories without any influence. It's very cool. @badassmutha.bsky.social | @donmcgowan.bsky.social Links below. 👇
143
Reposted by Don McGowan
Andy Burge 🇬🇧🇪🇺 @andygjburge.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
This is a really excellent episode of Sally and Don's podcast. I urge you to listen to it and subscribe, you won't regret it. Sally and Don are each equipped with a working moral compass & a social conscience who brilliantly articulate almost exactly how I feel about the issues we face today. 1/2
287
Reposted by Don McGowan
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Did Farage return from the wilderness only to jump on board the return train far quicker than he'd hoped? open.substack.com/pub/donmcgow...
open.substack.com
Farage
Return of the Invisible Man
034
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
🎙️ EP 94 of @NoHoldsPod — Winter is Coming Burnham sweeps in from THE NORTH and promises to take us back to Madchester. The Reform UK house of cards is wobbling and about to topple. James Murray did what Streeting never could — a deal with junior doctors. @badassmutha.bsky.social 🎧 Links below. 👇
155
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
🎙️ EP 93 of @noholdspod.bsky.social Solo Sal this week – my house is too hot for my laptop. 😅 @badassmutha.bsky.social Brexit is ten. Reform is fracturing. Trump's health is a talking point. And Burnham's already wobbling. Sal's speech at the National Rejoin March. 🎤 🎧 Links below. 👇
133
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Did Farage return from the wilderness only to jump on board the return train far quicker than he'd hoped? open.substack.com/pub/donmcgow...
open.substack.com
Farage
Return of the Invisible Man
034
Reposted by Don McGowan
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
🎙️ EP 92 – BY-ELECTION BLUES Three by-election losses for Reform UK in one night. But the media? Barely a peep. Farage, Pochin's faux-pas, Burnham, Meloni & Trump. Serious. Hilarious. No filter. 🎯 @badassmutha.bsky.social | @noholdspod.bsky.social 🎧 Links below 👇
267
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
🎙️ EP 92 – BY-ELECTION BLUES Three by-election losses for Reform UK in one night. But the media? Barely a peep. Farage, Pochin's faux-pas, Burnham, Meloni & Trump. Serious. Hilarious. No filter. 🎯 @badassmutha.bsky.social | @noholdspod.bsky.social 🎧 Links below 👇
267
Reposted by Don McGowan
No Holds Barred Pod @noholdspod.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Russia fires on a British yacht. Starmer assassination attempt. Palestine Action judgement. Burnham goes right. Farage's £5m. @badassmutha.bsky.social and @donmcgowan.bsky.social held nothing back. 🎙️ EP 91 – MOSCOW MULE | No Holds Barred Pod Links below. 👇
133
Reposted by Don McGowan
Badassmutha @badassmutha.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
6 days until we march to #RejoinEU Who's coming??
076
Reposted by Don McGowan
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
I wrote about the way rage-bait works and some examples of social media companies contributing to some seriously disturbing violence, and even murder. And, is our government completely impotent in the process? Something to read over your coffee this morning! 🤐 open.substack.com/pub/donmcgow...
033
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Episode 90 of @NoHoldsPod is available — even on decrepit warships and submarines. @badassmutha.bsky.social as and I chatted defence, UFC and we predicted Tommy Robinson's arrest at Heathrow. The far-right were humiliated on Saturday and the two Ryans were arrested. 🎉🥳 Links below. 👇
112
Reposted by Don McGowan
No Holds Barred Pod @noholdspod.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
We are really spoiling you this week. Another Discussions episode is available. @badassmutha.bsky.social and @donmcgowan.bsky.social cgowan chatted to Peter Corr, founder and organiser of @marchforrejoin.co.uk Join us on 20th June to show the Gov who much of a mistake Brexit was. Links below. 👇
135
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
I wrote about the way rage-bait works and some examples of social media companies contributing to some seriously disturbing violence, and even murder. And, is our government completely impotent in the process? Something to read over your coffee this morning! 🤐 open.substack.com/pub/donmcgow...
033
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
How has social media, and it's well-known bad actors [Tommy Robinson and Nigel Farage], created and caused real-world violence? And can the government actually do anything about it? open.substack.com/pub/donmcgow...
open.substack.com
HATE
What is it good for?
023
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
A new EP of our @noholdspod.bsky.social Discussions series has just dropped. @badassmutha.bsky.social and I were delighted to be visited by India Willoughby for a lovely chat yesterday. We talked trans, politics, football and loads of other stuff — some serious, some VERY funny. Links below. 👇
122
Reposted by Don McGowan
Badassmutha @badassmutha.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Farage has got himself into very hot water, @donmcgowan.bsky.social & I discussed it on @noholdspod.bsky.social ep 85. Give us a follow, if you like honest, truthful commentary, you won't regret it💞
1138
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
Episode 87 of @noholdspod.bsky.social is now available across our platforms — Links below. 👇 @badassmutha.bsky.social and I chatted about Labour, Trump's frankly insane concert with one of Milli Vanilli. Oh, and more Mandelson files and Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker were banned from the UK.
132
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Episode 84 of @noholdspod.bsky.social is now available in your pod apps, YouTube and Patreon. Don't forget to follow us when you watch/listen. One major topic this week — WHERE'S FARAGE? Links in post below. 👇
144
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Today's episode of @noholdspod.bsky.social with @badassmutha.bsky.social and I, is now available across all pod apps, YouTube and Patreon. We chatted about Tommy Robinson's failed Flag Race, Farage's five mill, Trump's China crisis and HS2 madness. 🕳️MAY CONTAIN POTHOLES🕳️ Links below. 👇
163
Reposted by Don McGowan
Trumpton @trumpton.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
Wes Streeting’s resignation to challenge Keir Starmer, combined with Andy Burnham’s sudden bid for the Makerfield by-election, has triggered a total Labour civil war, leaving the door wide open for Nigel Farage and a surging Reform UK to march straight through their crumbling Northern strongholds
23210
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
Off the back of Tommy Robinson's abject failure yesterday, you might like to listen to @badassmutha.bsky.social and I on @noholdspod.bsky.social EP that dropped yesterday. We chatted about Burnham, Starmer, Farage and Little Tom as well. We're on all pod apps, YouTube and Patreon. Links below. 👇
163
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
I wrote this article yesterday before Sam Coates humiliated himself on live TV last night. We need a bottom up [starting at GB News] restructure of our media landscape. open.substack.com/pub/donmcgow...
open.substack.com
Media Madness
The Angry Mob Descends Once Again
0115
Don McGowan @donmcgowan.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
While you're all digesting the incoming election results, we snuck out a new Episode of @noholdspod.bsky.social. Join @badassmutha.bsky.social and I for some chat about Kamikaze Dolphins and sharks with fricken laser beams! Oh, and THAT £5MILLION! Links below. 👇
154