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Gary O'Donoghue

@BBCBlindGazza

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BBC Senior North America Correspondent - former Chief Political Correspondent in London - though all the views I express on Twitter are mine alone.

Washington DC
Joined July 2009
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
This is the shameful moment when my cameraman Ron Skeans was attacked at an ⁦ @realDonaldTrump ⁩ rally in El Paso last night - warning this video contains strong language. Happily Ron is fine. #TrumpElPaso
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
3 years
For a blind person, this amounts to six separate potential accidents in a matter of feet. Please just put them to the side
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
This is the shameful moment when my cameraman Ron Skeans was attacked by @realdDonaldTrump supporter in El Paso - after the President repeatedly goaded the crowd over supposed media bias. Happily Ron is fine #TrumpElPaso
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
21 days
Here’s my view of what happened in Pennsylvania last night. Just my impressions as one reporter at one point in time.
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
My daughter took this, I’m told it looks alright
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
Trump says "is there any place more fun to be than a Trump rally" - well I can say it's no fun for me and my team - Cameraman Ron Skeans and Producer Eleanor Montague facing a protestor shoving Ron and trying to smash his camera
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
Security now removed Trump crowd member who pushed and shoved my cameraman - having jumped onto the Media platform here in El Paso - pretestor tried to smash our camera - follows multiple attacks on the media by the President and previous speakers - it's shameful
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Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
@ozsultan @yoda He was doing his job filming the speech. Nothing more, nothing less. It was an unprovoked attack.
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Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
9 to 0 judgment at the Supreme Court upholding the rights of states to enforce electoral college rules. Ten "faithless" electors defied the popular vote in their state in 2016
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Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
Supreme Court decision, for the first time, says employers can't discriminate against LGBTQ people. Opinion written by Conservative Judge, Neil Gorsuch, decision 6 to 3. Huge moment.
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
4 months
Just got shat on by a bird 10 mins before i go live on BBC 1 Ten o’clock news. Hostile environmemt this White House
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
Here is my report on the attack on the BBC cameraman at last night's @realdonaldtrump rally in El Paso.
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
Yeh but I’m in line to be the next James Bond
@realDonaldTrump
Donald J. Trump
4 years
I WON THE ELECTION!
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Gary O'Donoghue
7 years
That is one of the most bizarre and incoherent political speeches I have seen in more than 25 years of reporting politics
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
8 years
One of the marching bands in the inaugural grade was just playing God save the Queen – I'm not joking. #inauguration
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
I despair. Special assistance lady @HeathrowAirport told me "it's the law" that I HAVE TO wait in the special needs area airside — “the law"! She point blank refused my request to be escorted to the area around B gates and left to find my way to the gate when it was announced.
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
I love the fact that Alaska only has 50% of its votes counted so far. The Last Frontier doing things its own way! No Huskies were harmed in the production of this tweet. #election2020
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
The sad thing is that it will cause little more than a ripple. Disabled people struggle to be seen as anything more than second class citizens.
@lewis_goodall
Lewis Goodall
4 years
Catching up with the distressing PHE disability study: those with learning disabilities in England were up to 6x more likely to die after contracting Covid than the general population. Those aged 18-30 with learning disabilities were 30x more likely to die than their peers.
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Gary O'Donoghue
3 months
No other group in the population has to put up with this sort of thing. We’ve been banging on about this for years. So much for the secret ballot.
@BlondeHistorian
Dr Amy Kavanagh
3 months
I’m blind & I just had to say my voting choices out loud in the middle of my polling station. Voting is inaccessible for many blind & visually impaired people. Blind citizens deserve accessible, private & independent participation in democracy. #DogsAtPollingStations
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Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
When will @HeathrowAirport — and indeed airlines like @British_Airways — arrive in the 21st century in their treatment of disabled people? Anyone got a ticket for the Queen Mary I can buy? Frankly a rowing boat would be better than this hassle.
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Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
Good strong close by @petebuttigieg - sincerity without self-indulgence #demdebate
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
BBC Cameraaman shoved by member of the Trump crowd who some how got onto the media riser - shameof security - he is fortunately ok
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
My little tweet from yesterday has disappeared — either a glitch or my fault, not sure — not deleted deliberately
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
By “the actual blind” you mean blind people; living, breathing, working, loving people; according to you, we are less than even the most negative metaphorical uses of the word “blind”. #Ableism
@WhitneyCummings
Whitney Cummings
4 years
I'd say this is the blind leading the blind but I feel like this is the actual blind leading the actual blind
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
21 days
President Biden drawing the net of political violence widely in his oval office speech. Referencing January 6, attack on Nancy Pelosi‘s husb another incident. In other words this is a problem with America not with any particular party in America
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Gary O'Donoghue
3 years
Please don’t send us back to the days when people like me had to sit on trains counting stops and wondering whether we were getting off at the right station. Give us a break. Train companies will be told to axe ‘endless torrent’ of train announcements
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Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
I know that #impeachment is sucking up the entire news cycle right now, but just a thought for the 4327 people who died of COVID-19 yesterday in the United States. It’s double the death rate we saw at Thanksgiving.
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
2 years
Central London pub last night: me,“a pint of bitter please. Barman, a pint of what? Me, “bitter“ barman, what’s that? I don’t know the technical terms.“
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Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
I counted 3 strangers yesterday who spoke about me in the 3rd person to my ′excellent′ colleague while I was right there. Are blind people meant to just put up with this? What makes people abandon normal civilities? Sure, It's low level, but so wearing day after day.
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
Homeland Security secretary, Kirstjen Nielsen, says illegal immigration is spiraling out of control - speaking to House Homeland sec ctte
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
It took a supervisor's intervention for them to provide the assistance I need rather than the assistance they think I need.
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
9 years
Walter Palmer's surgery door. #CecilTheLion http://t.co/mZtX3QG85Q
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
I swear this is true. I spoke to a taxi driver in DC today who hadn't heard of Brexit. I could've kissed him.
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
The White House has called a lid. Which in normal speak means no more news for the day. Afterall,there’s not much happening.
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
20 days
Here’s our full half hour BBC one documentary on the assassination attempt on Donald Trump. A first draft… @BBCiPlayer @BBCNews
@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
21 days
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
3 years
It’s a small point I know; but how nice is it that these two great players don’t scream and roar when they hit a ball #raducanu
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
Oh America.
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
8 years
Carly Fiorina on my flight to indy, wonder why! Not in first either
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Gary O'Donoghue
3 years
Settling in at home with a glass of wine and the potential for an all night listening session to the state house in Texas. Don’t say I don’t know how to enjoy myself.
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
3 years
So proud to be on @corrie_corfield final appearance on the radio 4 1800 bulletin. What a voice and what a lovely person. Best wishes for the future
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
@lewis_goodall It’s an important point. These aren’t people from other branches of government – the courts, Congress etc. These are federal agencies
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Gary O'Donoghue
12 days
Certainly no lack of enthusiasm in the crowd for Kamala Harris‘s first campaign speech in Milwaukee. She’s also obviously enjoying it.
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
8 years
CIA speech tells us that @potus seems set on continuing to use his platform to fight minor battles with individual journalists
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
25 days
Predictions are a mug’s game. But surely it’s only a matter of time now.
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
This is a frighteningly vulnerable moment for America. We should all be very worried.
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
Wisconsin is turning into a real nailbiter. Biden just took an 11,000 vote lead having been more than 100,000 votes behind, because Milwaukee is coming in now. #election2020
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
Twitter has flagged the President's video - significantly it warns it could lead to a risk of violence. What channel are they watching?
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
I urge everyone to take a moment to think how this feels. Before you shrug your shoulders and dismiss the extra daily humiliations disabled people have to face.
@KatiePennick
Katie Pennick
5 years
I’m watching my train leave in 5 mins and I’m not on it because I apparently didn’t arrive early enough for staff to get the ramp. I’m late because the bus I was on let everyone (20+ people -full bus) off before deploying the ramp for me. Everyone on that bus made their train.
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Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
Chap in Georgetown tells me - en passant - "reach further with that stick" - always nice to get a white cane lesson from a random stranger - after all, I've only been using one since I was eight years old
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
about two hours after it should have happened. someone wanted these optics to play out for a while.
@afneil
Andrew Neil
4 years
DC National Guard to be deployed. Not before time.
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
3 years
@phillipnorton @DianaJohnsonMP My dad was a cabdriver. My mum worked behind a bar. I lost my site finally at eight years old. I was the first person to go to university in my family. I was told , aged 22, by a BBC executive that blind people couldn’t be reporters.
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
despite being a Liverpool fan, many tks to Terry for cracking open a 98 Latour first growth for our Champion's League final party #coys
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
Simply put, I couldn't do my job without braille. It makes literacy possible for blind people. Support it wherever you can. Especially for the young. #worldbrailleday #braille
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
1 year
Heathrow assistance again refusing to listen to the views of disabled passengers. When my flight was delayed I asked to be left in a cafe near to the gate and was laughed at by the woman “assisting” me. The assistance people wanted to talk among themselves instead of asking me.
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
8 years
"I can't do that" says Barack Obama when the crowd shouts "four more years"
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
2 years
The first flowers of condolence for the passing of the Queen outside the embassy in Washington, DC.
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
2 months
Out with the Labour Campaign today at Bassetlaw hospital in Worksop as they try to sell their message on health
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
I remember feeling incredibly angry when I heard of John’s death 25 years ago; we cursed those responsible for taking his life and wasting his talent. But Susie and the trust have channelled that emotion into something truly admirable. Please support them.
@JSchofieldTrust
John Schofield Trust
4 years
‘The senselessness of his death has never gone away.’ 25 years since he was killed in a war zone, BBC reporter @BBCBlindGazza remembers his friend and colleague John Schofield. @JSchofieldTrust #Mentoring #RememberingJohn
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
21 days
Take a look at our latest coverage on the Pennsylvania assassination attempt on Donald Trump’s life. Trump shooting: the security failures that let gunman mount assassinatio... via @YouTube
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
3 years
It’s not often that you have real confidence that a Brit will just do it! @EmmaRaducanu #USOpen2021
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
Breaking news: the president says Mount Rushmore is going nowhere.
@thehill
The Hill
4 years
President Trump: "Mount Rushmore is in great shape -- and it's going to be in great shape for centuries to come."
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
Tucker Carlson of Fox News is telling me that I should be worried that UFOs are interfering with America's nuclear weapons capabilities. I'm just wondering if that can wait for a few weeks?
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Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
I wouldn't want to be the President's campaign chief, Brad Parscale, this evening. Pix appear to show lots of empty seats on upper tier in arena, and the outside overflow already being dismantled
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Gary O'Donoghue
19 days
@davidhunter7 It was all thanks to an amazing team in London and here in the US. Really they made it very easy for me. A huge Production effort all round.
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
You can watch my report of the attack on Ron Skeans, my cameraman, by a @realDonaldTrump supporter on @BBCNews and @BBCWorld from 6 o’clock GMT
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Gary O'Donoghue
3 years
An utter legend and a gentleman. @jonsnowC4 One of the true greats of news anchors. And a man who always had time to talk to new young reporters. Bravo.
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Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
My cameraman Allen tells me Capitol Hill bars are doing early happy hours for today's public hearings - Subpoeana Coladas on sale ′Yes I know!′ #impeachmenthearings
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
2 years
That is literally a piece of bacon served in my Bloody Mary, it’s alright actually
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Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
I know this will sound weird coming from a blind person, but I know jeff a bit, and I bet he's a fantastic photographer. He was kind enough to take some snaps of me wants.
@JeffOvers
Jeff Overs
4 years
#SundayMorning - more of today’s 4.30am dawn pics, without boat or plane to disturb sleeping #London
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
8 years
Very very very flat atmosphere here at Clinton HQ - a real hush has descended #election2016
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
There really are some risks that you don't even think of.
@NEWS_MAKER
NEWS MAKER
4 years
Raccoons attack white house correspondents.
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
15 days
On this Weeks From Our Own Correspondent, my colleague Anthony Zurcher @awzurcher reports from the RNC in Milwaukee and I end the program with some reflections on the assassination attempt against Donald Trump take a listen.
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Gary O'Donoghue
9 years
It's all love and affection at Palmer's dental surgery. #CecilTheLion #Roar4Cecil http://t.co/bqEyWkfuf2
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Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
My teenage daughter has just told me my music is on too loud £NewEdwardianGeneration
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
3 years
I have received an email informing me that 23rd May is world turtle day. And that I should stop seeing turtles as rocks with legs.
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
8 years
PENTAGON says it still hasn't been contacted by the Trump Transition Team. Also, they don't know who on the team is leading on defense
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
Absolutely zero mention of disability in this at all. Surely that's at least a question when talking about "reflecting" Britain.
@BBCNews
BBC News (UK)
5 years
Does UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s cabinet reflect "modern Britain"? THREAD 👇 Read the full article: [tap to expand]
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
4 months
This thread is well worth a read. For anyone who thinks there isn’t constant hostility directed disabled women. You should think again.
@BlondeHistorian
Dr Amy Kavanagh
4 months
As a blind woman I frequently experience hostile & bizarre behaviours from men. My visual impairment wasn’t obvious before I used a white cane or guide dog so I’ve absolutely experienced the specific shift of behaviour towards my disability. Here are two recent examples 🧵
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Gary O'Donoghue
3 years
Massive congrats to @EllieSouthwood for her MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours list. Not only has she been the biggest champion of blind peoples’ rights, but she has also demonstrated that a blind person can be a real leader in the challenging environment of local government
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Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
My dear friend's Uber driver has a sign in his car that says "avoid all unnecessary laughter". When is that ever a good idea? ? @ #covid19
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
3 years
Trying to watch the Spurs game but can only find it with Spanish commentary. It’s almost more frustrating than not having it at all! #coys
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Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
Blind people around the world a regularly denied access to a proper secret ballot. If it happened to sighted people, there'd be uproar
@AP
The Associated Press
4 years
Advocates for the blind want states to allow ballots to be filed electronically, fearing that polling place closures and a focus on mail-in balloting will disenfranchise voters who are blind. By @AP_Christina .
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Gary O'Donoghue
2 years
The man just wants to go shopping. How would the rest of you like it if you were ordered out of somewhere because of a simple aspect of who you are.
@seandilleyNEWS
Sean Dilley NEWS
2 years
Briefly, I recorded this very quick video further to @guidedogs Access issue earlier @Tesco in my off time. I’ve been called a Socio path for having mentioned it and it has been described as “trivial. One person said I wanted cash.
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Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
Last time I set my alarm for 5 am was to ensure I didn't miss the last test match in the Ashes series.Tomorrow I will set my alarm for 5 am again to make sure I don't miss the UK Supreme Court judgement. God knows what that says about me.
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Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
@BBCJonSopel Not so much a dog whistle, just a straightforward foghorn
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
2 years
1hr 53mins from plane to arrivals hall @HeathrowAirport 0 queue at passport; 0 delay on baggage; this ridiculous amount of time is down to the airport’s assistance providers, what possible metrics can they be working to? @British_Airways Nothing changes
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Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
And if there was any doubt that Joe Biden, were he to win, would come under enormous pressure: here it is
@AOC
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
4 years
Expand the court.
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Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
some suggestion Joe Biden might announce a covid taskforce of his own by Monday. fascinating to see if Faucci oor Birkx are co-opted. presumably they would have to resign from their gvt jobs
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
Take A look at how the voting process takes place at one polling station in Nashua New Hampshire. #nhprimary
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Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
You could almost touch the eeriness of the silence as I just drove from the airport back into DC. An atmosphere I've never experienced before.
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Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
The excellent Election Project people in Florida now have early voting at 49.8% of the 2016 total votes. Quite extraordinary. We are heading for bumper turn out I think.
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Gary O'Donoghue
1 year
Really? Was my request so outlandish? You really should try to employ people with some empathy and at least a basic understanding of equality. @British_Airways @HeathrowAirport
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Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
"you could say that automatically without even knowing" - The President's logic underpinning his continuing assertion that the wall brought down crime in El Paso
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@BBCBlindGazza
Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
With the humility of an outsider, I still ask: America why are you incapable of facing this gun problem?
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Gary O'Donoghue
5 years
All you have to do is scratch the surface, and it becomes clear that disabled people are second class citizens.
@HilaryCottam
Hilary Cottam
5 years
. @VirginTrains announcer just blamed late running of our train on a wheel chair user ‘they do just turn up’. Am deeply shocked but 2 weeks ago @easyJet did the same on my delayed flight.
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Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
@rebeccaballhaus @jdawsey1 except, perhaps, the First Lady.
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Gary O'Donoghue
4 years
Nashville downtown by night
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