Carter is a Republican. Gary is a Democrat.

They met in 1984, during the epic U.S. Senate battle between Jesse Helms and Jim Hunt. Carter worked for Helms and Gary, for Hunt.

Years later, they became friends. They even worked together on some nonpolitical clients.

They enjoy talking about politics. So they started this blog in 2005.

They’re still talking. And they invite you to join the conversation.

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Carter Wrenn

Gary Pearce 2024

Gary Pearce

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Revenge

By Carter Wrenn September 30, 2025

A gunman wearing a ski mask, a pistol in his hand, kicked down the door, broke into his home. He was sixteen, home alone, with his younger brother. Pinning the brother to the floor, knee in the middle of his back, putting the gun to the brother’s ear, the gunman stared across the room at…

Sunday in America

By Gary Pearce September 30, 2025

The headlines were ugly Sunday. “Three killed and five injured in mass shooting in Southport.” “Four killed, eight injured in shooting and fire at Michigan church.” That came after Charlie Kirk’s murder and threats of violent retribution. Sunday night, there was a welcome voice of peace and sanity. On 60 Minutes, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox…

Two Presidents, Two Myths

By Gary Pearce September 25, 2025

Two myths told by two Presidents have defined American politics for 60 years. It’s time to retire both myths. Lyndon Johnson’s myth was that the federal government would give us the “Great Society” – banishing poverty, ensuring old-age security and giving every child a great education. Ronald Reagan’s myth was that “government isn’t the solution,…

A Touch of Politeness

By Carter Wrenn September 24, 2025

After taking our order the waitress, a plain-faced country woman with a gimp knee, limped toward the kitchen. David, a retired lawyer, sitting beside his son-in-law Kevin, leaning back, staring across the table at me, half laughed. “I’m sad to say Kevin’s got his foot in politics.” Round face, jaw set, Kevin grinned. “Can you…

The Past Isn’t Dead

By Carter Wrenn September 22, 2025

A court upended Trump’s tariffs – Trump said losing tariffs would land us in a great depression. Look back at history: In 1930 to stop ‘The Great Depression’ Republicans passed tariffs; the economy plummeted, unemployment rose to 25%. Next Trump said the War Department changed its name to the Defense Department to ‘go woke.’ The…

A Sign of Hope

By Carter Wrenn September 19, 2025

Republican Congressmen were for releasing the Epstein files – until the White House told them, No. Don’t do that. The Republican men, seeing it as practical, quickly fell in line behind Trump. The women turned out to be a different story. Two congressmen introduced a discharge petition to release the files. Eight Epstein victims went…

1A Americans

By Gary Pearce September 18, 2025

A podcaster described himself as “a proud 2A supporter” – 2A being the Second Amendment right to bear arms. America needs more “proud 1A supporters” – defending the First Amendment right to freedom of speech. Our 1A freedom is under attack from Trump and the MAGA Right. They’ve been silencing dissent and criticism from universities,…

Xi is Smiling

By Carter Wrenn September 17, 2025

60 Minutes did a story about the ‘Mysterious Russian Death Syndrome’ – it works like this: A journalist, reporting from Chechnya, Anna Politkovskaya wrote stories about torture, kidnapping, murders by Putin’s soldiers. A colonel in Chechnya had locked her in prison, tortured her, led her outside, told her, “I’m going to shoot you.” In the…

A Sign of Hope

By Carter Wrenn September 15, 2025

‘What did you think of those students?’ Gary asked after we spent an hour at a forum at N. C. State University. The students weren’t anything like politicians you watch on TV these days –– no one ranted, strutted; voices calm, when they disagreed, politeness held. Gary saw that as a sign of better days…

Getting the News

By Gary Pearce March 13, 2026

How do you get your news? Our statewide poll asked North Carolina voters what their primary…

MAGA-gator

By Gary Pearce March 12, 2026

Thom Tillis and Phil Berger fed the MAGA alligator. Then it ate them. Thomas Mills wrote…

Enough is Enough

By Gary Pearce March 11, 2026

Exactly 80 years ago, in 1946, Republicans took control of Congress with a simple message: “Had…