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Alice McCool

@mccoolingtons.bsky.social
5.5K followers 1.1K following 150 posts

❌ 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

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Alice McCool
Feena van @feenavan2099.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
"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."
youtu.be
How Africa has become part of America's deportation strategy | DW News
YouTube video by DW News
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Reposted by Alice McCool
Alejandra Caraballo @esqueer.net · 20/08/2026
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.
A network graph visualization on a dark background showing connections between various accounts. The central, highly connected node is labeled "J.K. Rowling," with lines radiating out to many other nodes color-coded by region (UK, US, etc.). A detail panel on the right displays stats for her account, including her role as "Author & commentator," an in-degree of 153, an out-degree of 84, and 14 million followers.A scatter plot graph on a dark background comparing accounts based on "followers (log)" on the x-axis and "in-degree" on the y-axis. The data points are color-coded by region. J.K. Rowling is highlighted as a major outlier in the top right corner, possessing the highest number of followers and the highest in-degree. Other labeled points lower on the graph include various politicians, individuals, and campaign organizations.
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
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.
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Reposted by Alice McCool
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
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 👀
motherjones.com
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.
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Reposted by Alice McCool
Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
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
Income and Expenditure Account
for the year ended 31 December 2025
Notes 2025 2024
£ £
Income
Donation income 2 22,872,257 5,861,950
Fundraising income 3 1,418,902 389,703
Merchandise sales 3 719,742 48,593
Membership fees 4 5,976,354 4,344,371
Notional income 144,880 -
Investment income 5 96,750 1,874
Miscellaneous income 6 633,535 186,225
Total income 31,862,420 10,832,716
Staff costs 10 2,966,604 741,146
Depreciation 12 27,393 1,710
Premises costs 499,635 144,226
Office costs 8,944,096 2,601,650
Campaign cost 4,376,601 4,248,408
Fundraising costs 3,472,805 1,341,280
Notional expenditure 144,880 -
Branch campaigning costs 736,958 -
Financing charges 11 400,587 236,167
Total Expenditure 21,569,559 9,314,587
Surplus before taxation 10,292,861 1,518,129
Tax on surplus (98,296) -
Surplus for the financial year 10,194,565 1,518,129
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Reposted by Alice McCool
TACC @tacc.org.uk · 29/07/2026
"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..."
metro.co.uk
Powerful unions boycott Labour Women's Conference over trans ban
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Read my full investigation here: www.thenerve.news/p/cpac-confe...
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
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...
thenerve.news
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 ...
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Reposted by Alice McCool
Dr Nafeez Ahmed @nafeez.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
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...
bylinetimes.com
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...
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Reposted by Alice McCool
TransActual @transactualuk.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
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...
thebureauinvestigates.com
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
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
🚨 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...
goodlawproject.org
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
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
🚨 #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
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
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
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
🚨 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...
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Reposted by Alice McCool
Miriam Quick @miriamquick.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
I designed the graphics for this important story by @mccoolingtons.bsky.social and @ludovicparsons.bsky.social. Take care when reading, topic is upsetting.
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
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...
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Reposted by Alice McCool
QueerAF @wearequeeraf.com · 23/04/2026
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...
Smiling protester with green hair holds a hand-painted sign reading “Trans youth deserve better,” surrounded by Pride flags at a busy street march.
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Reposted by Alice McCool
Jess O'Thomson @jessothomson.co.uk · 17/04/2026
As Bluesky was down so much yesterday, am resharing in case people would like to read this piece.
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
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 ✊👀
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
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
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Reposted by Alice McCool
Patrick Samphire 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @patricksamphire.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
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?"
thenerve.news
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...
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
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 🙃
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
📢 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 👀
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Reposted by Alice McCool
Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
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. 👏
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Reposted by Alice McCool
Good Law Project @goodlawproject.org · 13/04/2026
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: bit.ly/4tGXekv
pushkinhouse.org
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
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
I’m speaking at this event next Tues following my investigation into a far-right, anti-gender network in the UK funded by Viktor #Orbán. This may sound niche but #Hungary matters. JD #Vance is there rn trying to save Orbán whose 16yr rule might come to an end on Sunday… Get your tickets here 👇👀
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Reposted by Alice McCool
Good Law Project @goodlawproject.org · 04/04/2026
Our investigation in Byline Times exposes a network of global ultra-conservative groups using courts to target trans healthcare. bylinetimes.com/2026/04/02/how-the-…
bylinetimes.com
How the US Christian Right and Anti-Abortion Lobbyists are Reshaping NHS Policy
A new investigation exposes a global network of anti-abortion groups and US Christian nationalists using UK courts to target bodily autonomy
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
📢 NEW: My @goodlawproject.org investigation in @bylinetimes.bsky.social exposes how US Christian Right dark money + anti-abortion lobbyists are quietly reshaping UK healthcare. Definitely one to share with 'gender critical' relatives this Easter... bylinetimes.com/2026/04/02/h...
bylinetimes.com
How the US Christian Right and Anti-Abortion Lobbyists are Reshaping NHS Policy
A new investigation exposes a global network of anti-abortion groups and US Christian nationalists using UK courts to target bodily autonomy
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Urgent journo request: for @goodlawproject.org I'm looking to speak to friends of #trans ppl in the UK who have died whose #gender was not accurately recorded on their death certificate. I’m particularly interested in cases from the last year. I promise to handle your story with care 🖤
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
Another major warning from the UN about the threats to #trans rights in the UK, raising serious concerns under international human rights law. This was issued 10 days ago. Where's the media coverage? www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
ohchr.org
UN experts urge UK to ensure equal protection for all women and girls and all transgender people
GENEVA – The United Kingdom must ensure its ongoing review of statutory guidance under the Equality Act remains compatible with international human rights law and upholds equal protections for all tra...
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Reposted by Alice McCool
Rivkah Brown @rivkahbrown.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
SCOOP: The UK gave £90,000 to an Israeli report claiming that Hamas used sexual violence as a “weapon of war”. The Israeli government used the UK-funded report in a massive propaganda campaign, while Israeli officials called it a “significant public diplomacy tool”.
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
‼️ Just 2 days until Gorton and Denton byelection, so please keep sharing my story far + wide about Reform's candidate! P.s. Matt Goodwin has also collaborated with the Danube Institute, another Orbán-funded outfit in Hungary – led by Thatcher's former advisor... goodlawproject.org/orbans-pay-c...
goodlawproject.org
Orbán’s pay cheques: Reform candidate fuelled by profits from Russian oil
The Reform candidate at this month’s byelection claims he wants to put Britain first, but is he still on the payroll of Viktor Orbán’s far-right propaganda unit?
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
Sooo the Christian right group behind the rollback of abortion rights in the US is funding Elon Musk's X's case against the EU now... adfinternational.org/news/x-chall...
adfinternational.org
X challenges €120m fine under EU censorship law at top European court
X this week launched a landmark legal challenge against the €120 million fine it received in December under the Digital Services Act (DSA), an EU censorship law.
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
NEW: My attempt at a one minute sum up of my latest @goodlawproject.bsky.social investigations into a Viktor Orbán-funded influence op in the UK. Links to the written stories below 👇🧵 Please share. Only a week to go until the Gorton and Denton byelection...
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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
🔴 Wife of Keir Starmer’s comms chief had direct knowledge of Labour Together’s investigation into journalists Full story on Democracy for Sale: democracyforsale.substack.com/p/starmer-al...
democracyforsale.substack.com
Starmer ally Josh Simons faces fresh questions about digging dirt on journalists
Tory and SNP chiefs call for Labour minister Simons to ‘come clean’ as we reveal new details of PR firm’s campaign to discredit journalists
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
What small but powerful team at QueerAF pull off is nothing short of incredible - news, investigations, digestible breakdowns of really complex stories and ideas…and the list goes on. Support them ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
🚨 You may have seen the news that N Ireland has pulled out of the puberty blocker trial due to a judicial review attempting to halt it. You may not have seen is that the lawsuit is funded by a global anti-abortion Christian Right group. My investigation: goodlawproject.org/from-russia-...
goodlawproject.org
From Russia to the far right: the shadowy forces challenging the NHS puberty blockers trial | Good Law Project
CitizenGO is backed by Russian oligarchs and linked to the far right. Good Law Project’s undercover investigation shows that it’s ramping up its work in the UK.
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
“This is more confirmation that Reform and Goodwin are not just part of an extremist anti-British project...but are also enriching themselves on foreign far-right money.” Thanks to @zackpolanski.bsky.social for the quote ✊ Pls share it far + wide (beyond Bluesky!) goodlawproject.org/orbans-pay-c...
goodlawproject.org
Orbán’s pay cheques: Reform candidate fuelled by profits from Russian oil
The Reform candidate at this month’s byelection claims he wants to put Britain first, but is he still on the payroll of Viktor Orbán’s far-right propaganda unit?
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
BREAKING: Reform UK's candidate in the upcoming byelection Matt Goodwin says he wants his “country back”. But he's got close ties to the influence op I exposed last week. As a visiting fellow at MCC in Hungary he'll have received a salary of up to €10,000 a month. goodlawproject.org/orbans-pay-c...
goodlawproject.org
Orbán’s pay checks: Reform candidate fuelled by profits from Russian oil
The Reform candidate at this month’s byelection claims he wants to put Britain first, but is he still on the payroll of Viktor Orbán’s far-right propaganda unit?
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Reposted by Alice McCool
QueerAF @wearequeeraf.com · 16/02/2026
Profits from Russian oil are being funnelled into platforms enabling anti-trans speakers to spread transphobic rhetoric, an investigation by @mccoolingtons.bsky.social of @goodlawproject.bsky.social reveals 👇 Understand more: www.wearequeeraf.com/understand-t...
Screenshot of QueerAF newsletter that reads: Dark money is fuelling anti-trans speakers and rhetoric in the UK. A new investigation tracks some of it back to Russian oil profits.
A new investigation by the Good Law Project has revealed profits from Russian oil are being funnelled, via Hungary, into platforms enabling anti-trans speakers to spread transphobic rhetoric.
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
Thanks to the icons at @bylinetimes.bsky.social for covering my @goodlawproject.bsky.social investigation into a Viktor Orbán / Russian oil funded network infiltrating the British establishment 👀 bylinetimes.com/2026/02/13/n...
bylinetimes.com
Nigel Farage Advisor Tied to Russian Oil Profits Via Orban-Backed Influence Operation
The man in charge of developing Reform's plans for Government sits on the board of an organisation whose funding is tied to Russian oil money
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Reposted by Alice McCool
Caroline Lucas @carolinelucas.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
Absolutely brilliant take-down by @fionaharvey.bsky.social of ludicrous myths & misinformation spouting from Tony Blair’s think tank. Why on earth does he think it’s sensible to make our energy more costly & less secure?
theguardian.com
Tony Blair’s oil lobbying is a misleading rehash of fossil fuel industry spin
Ex-PM’s thinktank urges more drilling and fewer renewables, ignoring evidence that clean energy is cheaper and better for bills
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
A judge has ruled that if u are trans you must stop using the toilets of your lived gender at work, even if it outs you, writing “a propensity for gossip is a feature of every workplace” which “anyone can expect to bear from time to time.” But the fight continues. goodlawproject.org/update/high-...
goodlawproject.org
High Court rules on lawfulness of the EHRC’s interim guidance
High Court decides services may lawfully allow trans women to use women’s facilities – but the fight for trans rights continues
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
BUZZING. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live...
theguardian.com
High court rules ban on Palestine Action is unlawful – live
Protest group’s co-founder wins legal challenge against decision to proscribe it under anti-terrorism laws
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Reposted by Alice McCool
Good Law Project @goodlawproject.org · 12/02/2026
Our investigation has uncovered a network funded by Hungary’s authoritarian leader Viktor Orbán, that uses profits from refining Russian oil to platform far right and anti-trans campaigners in the UK goodlaw.social/2l1y
goodlaw.social
Putin’s megaphone: Orbán’s far-right push into UK universities is fuelled by Russian oil | Good Law Project
Good Law Project has uncovered a network funded by Hungary’s authoritarian leader Viktor Orbán, that uses profits from refining Russian oil to platform far right and anti-trans campaigners in the UK
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
What links anti-trans Kathleen Stock, Palantir's Peter Thiel, ex-minister Michael Gove + Hungary's Viktor Orbán? A network using Russian oil profits to push far-right ideas in the UK, inc at Oxbridge. Get the tea in my @goodlawproject.bsky.social investigation: goodlawproject.org/putins-megap...
goodlawproject.org
Putin’s megaphone: Orbán’s far-right push into UK universities is fuelled by Russian oil | Good Law Project
Good Law Project has uncovered a network funded by Hungary’s authoritarian leader Viktor Orbán, that uses profits from refining Russian oil to platform far right and anti-trans campaigners in the UK
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
Resharing my @goodlawproject.bsky.social piece cos according to Keira Bell, her anti-trans legal case is now not just a threat – it's going ahead. Journalists, in your reporting pls mention the anti-abortion group (linked to Russia + far right) funding this. goodlawproject.org/from-russia-...
goodlawproject.org
From Russia to the far right: the shadowy forces challenging the NHS puberty blockers trial | Good Law Project
CitizenGO is backed by Russian oligarchs and linked to the far right. Good Law Project’s undercover investigation shows that it’s ramping up its work in the UK.
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Writing this was a pleasure. These women are icons + so inspiring that they got me in the water in December! Trans ppl, pls know you're welcome at the Ponds. And that there are a lot more cis women standing up for you in their communities than you might think. www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture...
dazeddigital.com
The women fighting for trans inclusion at Hampstead ponds
The High Court has rejected a legal challenge attempting to ban trans people from Hampstead Heath’s single-sex ponds. Good Law Project speaks to the activists and regular swimmers behind the movement ...
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
“Blanket bans on #transgender women in sport are not supported by the best available evidence,” said endocrinologist Dr Ada Cheung from The University of Melbourne, adding that “fairness and inclusion can coexist”. www.independent.co.uk/news/science...
independent.co.uk
Trans athletes may not have fitness advantage in women’s sport, landmark study finds
Findings suggest physical performance in trans women converges toward that of cis women over time
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
New @corporateeurope.org report on #BigTech lobbying has found EU Commission officials met lobbyists 100+ times on the Digital Fairness Act since Dec 2024. 83% of meetings were w/ companies + business lobby groups, while less than 14% were with NGOs + trade unions corporateeurope.org/en/2026/02/a...
corporateeurope.org
Addicted to the algorithm: how Big Tech lobbies to keep us hooked on social media | Corporate Europe Observatory
As the EU prepares the Digital Fairness Act to tackle the addictive nature of social media design, big tech aggressively protects its business models. With Trumpists and far-right allies likely to joi...
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