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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The Third Man

By Carter Wrenn January 31, 2017

Fearless and unfettered by creeds, mocking his foes, he tweeted New Year’s greetings to “my many enemies who have fought me and lost so badly.” His vanity boundless he loves talking about himself, boasting, ‘Great meeting…packed house…long standing ovations.’ When he speaks one man sees a Deliverer while another sees a devil; one roars he’s…

Jerry Brown vs Trump

By Gary Pearce January 31, 2017

Mention Jerry Brown, and people are apt to laugh and say, “Governor Moonbeam” or “flake” or the like. Wrong. Today, Brown is serving his fourth term as California’s Governor. He restored his state to fiscal sanity. He made it a climate-change leader. He has emerged as a wise elder and truth-teller. And never more so…

Alternative Universe

By Gary Pearce January 24, 2017

Trump started his Presidency with a speech that should have surprised no one. It’s what he said from day one. Then he sent his spokesman to tell a blatant, bald-faced, laughable lie about crowd sizes. “Alternative facts,” the White House explained. Trump has an obsession with the size of his things. Then hundreds of thousands…

Weaving Their Way Through Congress

By Carter Wrenn January 24, 2017

Donald Trump was blunt, saying his Presidency is going to be about taking power away from the Washington Politicians and giving it back to the people. I’d like to say, Amen. But is Donald Trump really a populist crusader? Or is he a pragmatist who simply decided anti-Washington populism was the train to ride to…

Hard News and the Search for Clicks

By Carter Wrenn January 23, 2017

I read down the list of headlines on the newspaper’s website until I came to one that read: Trump’s inaugural address echoes anti-Semitic isolationists and a Batman villain. Fact, I wondered. Or opinion? According to the newspaper it was fact. Hard news. When Donald Trump said his inauguration was about taking power away from Washington…

Trump’s Speech

By Carter Wrenn January 20, 2017

Donald Trump didn’t mince words: “We are not merely transferring power from one Administration to another,” he said, “we are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to the people.” “For too long, a small group in our nation’s capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost……

Four Tribes

By Carter Wrenn January 20, 2017

A year and a half ago – when the election began – the Democrat Washington Politicians battled the Democratic Outsiders and the Republican Washington Politicians fought the Republican Outsiders. So where are the four tribes now? Hillary’s gone. But both the Democratic Washington Politicians and the Democratic Outsiders are carefully watching Trump waiting for him…

The Old World

By Carter Wrenn January 19, 2017

Back in 1789 there was nothing in the federal Treasury worth stealing but Thomas Jefferson wrote John Adams it was only a matter of time: He didn’t see, he said, how the Constitution would stop a scoundrel (or a group of scoundrels) clever enough and ruthless enough to cajole (or buy) 51% of the votes…

Trump Dump

By Gary Pearce January 19, 2017

There’s a lot to talk about as Trump takes office. An “illegitimate” President? Congressman/civil rights hero John Lewis touched a nerve here. Trump & Co. went nuclear. But the Russian hacking stories will persist. As will the golden-showers stain. Trump supporters say, “Get over it. He won. He’s President. Show him some respect.” Really? This…

Independents Turn Against GOP

By Gary Pearce March 17, 2026

North Carolina voters don’t like either the Democratic or Republican parties. But Independent voters – who…

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…