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

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.

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.

Garnet Henderson@garnethenderson.com · 2mo ago

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:

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

🚨 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...

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

🚨 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...

Press Gazette@pressgazette.co.uk · 5mo ago

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

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. 👏

THE NERVE@thenerve.news · 6mo ago

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...

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 👇👀

Index on Censorship@indexoncensorship.org · 6mo ago

#Hungary: Polls open on Sunday for what is expected to be a decisive general election for the country & Europe. JD Vance is already heading there to show support for PM Viktor Orbán. Join us on Tuesday for a post-election debrief at Pushkin House: www.pushkinhouse.org/whats-on/eve...: