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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Quentin Lindsey

By Gary Pearce October 7, 2016

Quentin W. Lindsey was by no means the most colorful or controversial person to work for Governor Hunt. But he had more long-term impact on North Carolina than most any of us. Quent, who died September 21, was the Governor’s Science and Public Policy Advisor. He was instrumental in the establishment of the NC School…

Murder in Paleolithic Times

By Carter Wrenn October 7, 2016

If you attach the words ‘science proves this’ to a statement most people, almost as a reflex, will believe it. Often without a second thought. The other day the newspapers reported a scientist at Granada University in Spain had published a study on the ‘evolutionary history of lethal violence.’ The scientist had carefully created a…

No answer at 911

By Gary Pearce October 7, 2016

A TAP contributor writes, “Here’s an example of what slips through the cracks when a governor is distracted by his world collapsing around him: “McCrory and his team did nothing when 400 people lost their jobs in the abrupt closing of Johnston Ambulance Service. Anybody who’s been around a hospital or nursing home in eastern…

An Unpopular Question

By Carter Wrenn October 6, 2016

Hillary, speaking about Bernie Sanders’ supporters, explained, “They’re children of the Great Recession. And they are living in their parent’s basement. They feel they got their education, and the jobs that are available to them are not at all what they envisioned for themselves.” Donald Trump shot back: “Hillary Clinton thinks Bernie supporters are hopeless…

Trump’s big fat trap

By Gary Pearce October 6, 2016

Since Donald Trump opened up his big fat trap at the debate 10 days ago, a big fat trap has opened up for Republicans all down the ballot. Polls now show the full measure of damage that Trump did to himself and to all Republicans, especially with Independents and women. Even worse, Trump has two…

Over a Barrel

By Carter Wrenn October 5, 2016

Somehow the New York Times laid its hands on Donald Trump’s tax returns from 1995,  which showed Trump had claimed $916 million in losses – losses so large, according to the Times, Donald Trump may not have paid a penny of federal income taxes for 18 years. It would be hard to find a newspaper…

Pat’s Cat 5 Storm

By Gary Pearce October 5, 2016

Regardless of what Hurricane Matthew does, Pat McCrory is struggling against high headwinds and a vicious riptide. That forecast track is clear in WRAL’s SurveyUSA poll (which has nothing to do with Greg Fishel). It’s not just that Roy Cooper leads McCrory 48-44. It’s that all the winds are blowing Cooper’s way. Half (51 percent)…

Your Cheating Heart (Will Tell on You)

By Carter Wrenn October 4, 2016

Gripping the lectern Trump whacked Hillary for Bill’s running around then, after his speech, the press asked Trump about his running around (with Marla Maples) when he was married to Ivana. Trump shot back, ‘I don’t talk about that.’ Today the meltdown got worse.  

Come again?

By Gary Pearce October 4, 2016

What’s up with Pat McCrory’s ad strategy? Under the Dome reported that he has a new ad “boasting of North Carolina’s economic gains.” In it, McCrory says: “When I entered office North Carolina had record unemployment, high taxes and huge budget shortfalls; it had been that way for years. Now, we have one of the…

Political Shots Fired

By Gary Pearce April 28, 2026

The political sniping began even as chaos still reigned at the White House Correspondents Dinner. My…

Obama 48-Trump 39

By Gary Pearce April 26, 2026

A new nationwide poll shows that, if they could run against each other in 2028, Barack…

“Conservative Successes”?

By Gary Pearce April 23, 2026

Senator Phil Berger was out of touch with voters in his district – and suffered the…