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 Times and Trump

By Carter Wrenn January 9, 2017

When North Korea said it was going to test an intercontinental ballistic missile that would reach the U.S. Donald Trump grabbed his Twitter machine and roared, ‘North Korea just stated that it is in the final stages of developing a nuclear weapon capable of reaching parts of the U.S. It won’t happen!’ Reading Trump’s tweet…

Roy’s strong and stormy start

By Gary Pearce January 8, 2017

At Friday night’s SnowBall, a young woman bemoaned all that had happened to Governor Cooper since the election two months ago: McCrory’s month-long refusal to concede, the legislature’s power grab and, now, a winter storm disrupting his inaugural. “Poor Roy,” she said. “He can’t catch a break.” Saturday morning, as I alternated between watching the…

Darkness is Bi-partisan

By Carter Wrenn January 6, 2017

The other morning laying in bed, opening John’s Gospel I read: Truth is the road to light. Later that morning in my office opening the newspaper I read a new poll (by The Economist) said half of Donald Trump’s voters believe President Obama was born in Kenya (even though Trump now says that’s not so)…

Feed the Birds!

By Gary Pearce January 6, 2017

With snow in the forecast, this is my annual reminder – for the sake of our feathered friends and in memory of my father. First, the birds. Snow covers up the seeds, bugs, worms and other delicacies they eat. So, Feed the Birds! When you stock up on bread, milk, toilet paper, wine and brownie…

Storm warnings

By Gary Pearce January 5, 2017

The weather forecast this weekend is the Universe’s way of preparing North Carolina for the next four years: Big storms are coming, nobody can predict what will happen and there is maximum risk to life, limb and political futures. And, just to squeeze the last drops from this metaphor, any slip-ups can be fatal, only…

A Breach of Trust?

By Carter Wrenn December 30, 2016

Along with other protestors the professor was evicted from the State Senate gallery by the police. Then, a day or so later, he published an op-ed but he didn’t argue the legislature stripping Roy Cooper of his power was illegal – he called it a breach of trust. Since the majority of people had voted…

A Twitter Brawl

By Carter Wrenn December 29, 2016

On Christmas Day an editor at Buzzfeed News contacted Sean Spicer the RNC spokesman and Spicer tweeted back: “When you asked me if that Trump/”new King”/Jesus comparison was intentional: I hope you were kidding.” It was too late. A brawl had already broken out on Twitter with a legion of tweeters – like ‘Sentient Space…

Petty Pat

By Gary Pearce December 29, 2016

Some pundits, clearly suffering from too much holiday cheer, have strained to say kind things about Pat McCrory in his final days. Not me. I’m taking one more shot on his way out. Earlier in his one (blessedly) term, McCrory took a stand against legislative overreach. The legislature’s appointments to a coal ash commission, in…

Hitler and Fake News

By Carter Wrenn December 28, 2016

Even with four degrees behind him Eric remains untouched by either pretension or the wonders of the Internet – so it came as a surprise when I asked, Did you buy the book about Hitler? and he said, I looked it up on the internet. It said the book compares Trump to Hitler. Hitler wasn’t…

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…