No Holds Barred Pod

EP 96 – POWER TENDS TO CORRUPT | Trump Ruins the World Cup. Farage's Annus Horibbilis. More Government Overreach.

No Holds Barred Pod, is Sal Dodgson and Don McGowan. Politics unpacked every week. News, politics and opinion. Serious and hilarious in equal measure.

Don was at Pride on Saturday and met MeatZine! We talked about media manipulation of our politics again. Murdoch has finally had enough of Farage and it shows. Trump's 250th DID NOT GO WELL. And those caps lock words are a gigantic understatement. Shabana Mahmood seems to be dragging the government into even more authoritarian spaces with the press.

And Trump has ruined the World Cup with his blatant corruption.

Strong language. Politics unpacked. Every week.

No Holds Barred Links

Our website: https://noholdsbarredpod.com

Buy some merch here: https://noholdsbarredpod.com/merch/

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-YouTube 

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-Spotify 

Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-Apple 

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoHoldsBarredPod

Don's Substack:https://donmcgowan333.substack.com/ 

Sal's Substack: https://substack.com/@salsnackered

Write to your MP: https://www.writetothem.com 

Thanks, as always, to Zomby Pop on 𝕏 for our theme tune.
Contact us here:

𝕏 — @NoHoldsPod

𝔼 — [email protected]

EP 95 – CONSPIRACY or THEORY | MKUltra, Burnham issue. Reform continues to tank.

No Holds Barred Pod, is Sal Dodgson and Don McGowan. Politics unpacked every week. News, politics and opinion. Serious and hilarious in equal measure.

Sal talks us through the latest unrestricted release of files about MKUltra and its ramifications on modern times. We spoke a lot about Burnham, and just where is he getting his cash for all of his policies. Was the No.10 of the north a long time in the coup planning?

Farage continues to flail. Is he waving or drowning?

Strong language. Politics unpacked. Every week.

No Holds Barred Links

Our website: https://noholdsbarredpod.com

Buy some merch here: https://noholdsbarredpod.com/merch/

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-YouTube 

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-Spotify 

Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-Apple 

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoHoldsBarredPod

Don's Substack:https://donmcgowan333.substack.com/ 

Sal's Substack: https://substack.com/@salsnackered

Write to your MP: https://www.writetothem.com 

Thanks, as always, to Zomby Pop on 𝕏 for our theme tune.
Contact us here:

𝕏 — @NoHoldsPod

𝔼 — [email protected]

EP 08 — DISCUSSIONS with Dan Hatton — News Agency

No Holds Barred Pod, is Sal Dodgson and Don McGowan. Politics unpacked every week. News, politics and opinion. Serious and hilarious in equal measure.

We're back with a new episode of Discussions with Dan Hatton, creator and founder of News Agency, a daily news briefing that strips away the emotive partisan shroud that hangs over our media news.

Factual, non-emotive summaries of the day’s main stories. Analysis of how different news outlets frame the same news. Links to articles for optional further reading. Orientation support, with “what this affects” and “what to watch next” sections for each story.

We chatted about the issues facing the public in finding genuinely non-partisan news, the impact on mental health, social media and a whole lot more besides.

Strong language. Politics unpacked. Every week.

No Holds Barred Links

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-YouTube 

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-Spotify 

Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-Apple 

News Agency is here: https://www.news-agency.org

Don's Substack:https://donmcgowan333.substack.com/ 

Sal's Substack: https://substack.com/@salsnackered? 

Write to your MP: https://www.writetothem.com 

Thanks, as always, to Zomby Pop on 𝕏 for our theme tune.
Contact us here:

𝕏 — @NoHoldsPod

𝔼 — [email protected]

EP 94 – WINTER IS COMING | Burnham from THE NORTH, Farage is out in the cold.

No Holds Barred Pod, is Sal Dodgson and Don McGowan. Politics unpacked every week. News, politics and opinion. Serious and hilarious in equal measure.

Well. Starmer is gone and Burnham is taking us all up to Madchester. Will it work? Sal and Don are not so sure. Lots of discussion about Andy Burnham of course, but Reform UK is teetering on its last legs. Who will deliver the final blow?

James Murray has managed to negotiate an end to the doctor's strikes. Finally.

We chatted about some crypto shenanigans as well and ended with a beautiful Foo Fighters cover version from the kids at the Bell Tower Beats of Anfield Road Primary School. We dare you not to shed a tear.

Strong language. Politics unpacked. Every week.

No Holds Barred Links

Our website: https://noholdsbarredpod.com

Buy some merch here: https://noholdsbarredpod.com/merch/

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-YouTube 

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-Spotify 

Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-Apple 

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoHoldsBarredPod

Don's Substack:https://donmcgowan333.substack.com/ 

Sal's Substack: https://substack.com/@salsnackered

Write to your MP: https://www.writetothem.com 

Thanks, as always, to Zomby Pop on 𝕏 for our theme tune.
Contact us here:

𝕏 — @NoHoldsPod

𝔼 — [email protected]

EP 93 – REFORM RUPTURE | Brexit is ten. Decline of Reform. Trump's failing health. Burnham

No Holds Barred Pod, is Sal Dodgson and Don McGowan. Politics unpacked every week. News, politics and opinion. Serious and hilarious in equal measure.

Sal was flying solo in this episode, as Don's house is too hot for his laptop! He will be back next week though. Sal talked through the week's news, including Trump's ailing health, Reform is in turmoil and Andy Burnham isn't off to a great start.

We were both at the Rejoin march in London last Saturday and Sal gave an amazing speech in Parliament Square to kick things off. You can watch it here and see more from the other speakers — Neil Kinnock!

https://noholdsbarredpod.com/national-rejoin-march-2026/

Our closing video is a work of genius by MC Hammersmith, find him here: https://www.youtube.com/@MCHammersmith

Strong language. Politics unpacked. Every week.

No Holds Barred Links

Our website: https://noholdsbarredpod.com

Buy some merch here: https://noholdsbarredpod.com/merch/

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-YouTube 

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-Spotify 

Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-Apple 

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoHoldsBarredPod

Don's Substack:https://donmcgowan333.substack.com/ 

Sal's Substack: https://substack.com/@salsnackered

Write to your MP: https://www.writetothem.com 

Thanks, as always, to Zomby Pop on 𝕏 for our theme tune.
Contact us here:

𝕏 — @NoHoldsPod

𝔼 — [email protected]

EP 92 – BY-ELECTION BLUES | is Reform UK finished? Can Farage dig himself out of this hole?

No Holds Barred Pod, is Sal Dodgson and Don McGowan. Politics unpacked every week. News, politics and opinion. Serious and hilarious in equal measure.

Results are in, and Reform UK have failed in a big way. Three by-election losses in one night, not that you'd know it from our ludicrous media. They only want to topple another Prime Minister. Will it change anything?

Join us at the National Rejoin March tomorrow [if you're listening on day of release!].

Topics this episode:

• Reform UK by-election losses
• Pochin makes a huge faux-pas
• Lee Anderson has botox
• Is Burnham the answer
• Trump is really struggling
• Georgia Meloni has sparked a diplomatic incident over Trump's lies
• Farage is in his hiding field
• Nigel Farage and the £5 million question

Strong language. Politics unpacked. Every week.

No Holds Barred Links

Our website: https://noholdsbarredpod.com

Buy some merch here: https://noholdsbarredpod.com/merch/

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-YouTube 

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-Spotify 

Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-Apple 

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoHoldsBarredPod

Don's Substack:https://donmcgowan333.substack.com/ 

Sal's Substack: https://substack.com/@salsnackered

Write to your MP: https://www.writetothem.com 

Thanks, as always, to Zomby Pop on 𝕏 for our theme tune.
Contact us here:

𝕏 — @NoHoldsPod

𝔼 — [email protected]

EP 91 – MOSCOW MULE | Russia, Andy Burnham, Starmer Assassination Attempt & Palestine Action

Russia fires on a British yacht in the English Channel. Andy Burnham pivots right. The Starmer assassination plot divides Sal and Don. Palestine Action loses its appeal. And don't forget Farage's five million pounds.

This week on your favourite UK politics podcast, No Holds Barred, Sal Dodgson and Don McGowan unpack a packed news week — with strong opinions, genuine disagreement, and no filter. From media framing of the Starmer case to what Burnham's rightward shift means for Labour's left flank, nothing gets a free pass.

Topics this episode:

• Russian warship fires toward a yacht in the English Channel
• The Keir Starmer assassination attempt — Sal and Don disagree
• Media framing and the court of public opinion
• Palestine Action appeal upheld — what it means
• Andy Burnham's pitch to the right
• Nigel Farage and the £5 million question

Strong language. Politics unpacked. Every week.

No Holds Barred Links

Our website: https://noholdsbarredpod.com

Buy some merch here: https://noholdsbarredpod.com/merch/

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-YouTube 

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-Spotify 

Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-Apple 

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoHoldsBarredPod

Don's Substack:https://donmcgowan333.substack.com/ 

Sal's Substack: https://substack.com/@salsnackered

Write to your MP: https://www.writetothem.com 

Thanks, as always, to Zomby Pop on 𝕏 for our theme tune.
Contact us here:

𝕏 — @NoHoldsPod

𝔼 — [email protected]

EP 90 – DEFENCE DIFFICULTIES — Healy resigns. Far-right humiliated. UFC shenanigans. Trillionaires.

No Holds Barred Pod is Sal Dodgson and Don McGowan. Politics unpacked every week. News, politics and opinion.

More Labour Party losses this week, with Healy and the very squared-jawed Al Carns [who?] resigning over the defence budget. Don argued that he can see the point of Rachel Reeves — they wasted so much cash already.

We chatted about the far-right's latest humiliations around the country, when they were vastly outnumbered by decent folk. The two Ryans — Bridge and Ferguson — were arrested … which is nice.

Trump's birthday fight club could be rained off, and Musk is a trillionaire. 🤷‍♂️

Don't forget Farage's five million pounds.

WE HAVE MERCH as seen in the episode, available from: https://noholdsbarredpod.com/merch/

SOME STRONG LANGUAGE

You can find everything you need to know about the pod on our website: noholdsbarredpod.com  

We’re also on Patreon with early episodes, chat with hosts, Sal and Don every week, bonus longer episodes and a growing community chat group. Details on our website or click here.

No Holds Barred Links

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-YouTube 

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-Spotify 

Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-Apple 

Don's Substack:https://donmcgowan333.substack.com/ 

Sal's Substack: https://substack.com/@salsnackered? 

Write to your MP: https://www.writetothem.com 

Thanks, as always, to Zomby Pop on 𝕏 for our theme tune.
Contact us here:

𝕏 — @NoHoldsPod

𝔼 — [email protected]

EP 07 — DISCUSSIONS with Peter Corr — National Rejoin March

No Holds Barred Pod, is Sal Dodgson and Don McGowan. Politics unpacked every week. News, politics and opinion. Serious and hilarious in equal measure.

We're back with a new episode of Discussions with Peter Corr, founder and organiser of the National Rejoin March. On June 20th, the march will be bigger than ever and run from Temple to Parliament Square to protest our ludicrous exit from the EU.

We chatted about the march, Peter's walk from London to Brussels to deliver a book of signatures to the EU Parliament, we got into some politics as well. An excellent chat all round.

Join us on the day in London if you can. Sal and Don will be there chatting to people about their views on the disaster that was Brexit.

SOME STRONG LANGUAGE

You can find everything you need to know about the pod on our website: noholdsbarredpod.com  

We’re also on Patreon with early episodes, chat with hosts, Sal and Don every week, bonus longer episodes and a growing community chat group. Details on our website or click here.

No Holds Barred Links

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-YouTube 

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-Spotify 

Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-Apple 

Nation Rejoin March is here: https://marchforrejoin.co.uk/

Don's Substack:https://donmcgowan333.substack.com/ 

Sal's Substack: https://substack.com/@salsnackered? 

Write to your MP: https://www.writetothem.com 

Thanks, as always, to Zomby Pop on 𝕏 for our theme tune.
Contact us here:

𝕏 — @NoHoldsPod

𝔼 — [email protected]

EP 88 – A QUESTION OF TIME — Kenyon up the creek. Palantir are back. Albanian Island News.

No Holds Barred Pod is Sal Dodgson and Don McGowan. Politics unpacked every week. News, politics and opinion.

We're catching up on delayed episodes after a series of recording hiccups, so this episode was recorded the day after Reform's disastrous Question Time appearance. Palantir may have been kept out of London's Met Police, but it's still being used in EVERYTHING.

And Sal had some positive news in the fightback against billionaires, courtesy of Albania.

Don't forget Farage's five million pounds.

SOME STRONG LANGUAGE

You can find everything you need to know about the pod on our website: noholdsbarredpod.com  

We’re also on Patreon with early episodes, chat with hosts, Sal and Don every week, bonus longer episodes and a growing community chat group. Details on our website or click here.

No Holds Barred Links

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-YouTube 

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-Spotify 

Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/NoHolds-Apple 

Don's Substack:https://donmcgowan333.substack.com/ 

Sal's Substack: https://substack.com/@salsnackered? 

Write to your MP: https://www.writetothem.com 

Thanks, as always, to Zomby Pop on 𝕏 for our theme tune.
Contact us here:

𝕏 — @NoHoldsPod

𝔼 — [email protected]