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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“Who sucks less?”

By Gary Pearce May 23, 2016

That’s how former Senator Bob Kerrey says most Americans view the choice between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. And a poll by The New York Times last week bears him out. Trump’s troubles: He is viewed unfavorably by 60 percent of women, 65 percent of voters age 18-29 and 68 percent of non-white voters. Clinton’s…

Cooper’s coup on HB2

By Gary Pearce May 20, 2016

Now Roy Cooper can say he’s protected more jobs against HB2 fallout than Governor Potty McCrory has. After Cooper met with the CEO, New Jersey-based Braeburn Pharmaceuticals decided to proceed with a $20 million, 50-job manufacturing and research facility in Durham County. The company had been reevaluating its plans because of HB2. Cooper can say,…

A heady honor

By Gary Pearce May 19, 2016

This is a high point in my life. One of the people I admire most, D.G. Martin, put forward my name for a panel he suggests to resolve North Carolina’s HB2 crisis. D.G. wrote in a recent column: “I believe that a panel of people of goodwill representing both supporters and opponents of HB2 could…

Capital bullying

By Gary Pearce May 18, 2016

Republican leaders in Raleigh look like a cross between the Nixon White House and North Korea. Nixon: “Make an enemies list. We’ll screw ‘em!” North Korea: “All Facebook and Twitter posts will be monitored. There will be no deviations from the party line.” WRAL’s Laura Leslie exposed the tawdry mess in a story (“Lobbyists: Lawmakers…

George and Renee — End of Round 1

By Carter Wrenn May 17, 2016

Renee Ellmers was being clever. She thought. By telling voters George Holding had opposed ‘the U.S. Army.’ But it turned out to not be clever at all. Because when Holding explained that Ellmers was claiming he’d voted against the Army because he’d voted against Obama’s Omnibus Budget Deal – the earth shifted beneath Ellmers’ feet.…

Remember when…

By Gary Pearce May 17, 2016

Governor McCrory is very proud that North Carolina moved up from 42nd to 41st in teacher pay last year. Well, let’s turn back the clock about 20 years. In 1997, Governor Jim Hunt proposed raising teacher salaries to the national average. At the time, we ranked 43rd. With bipartisan support (including a Republican-majority House), the…

Renee and George

By Carter Wrenn May 13, 2016

Today Renee aired a new radio ad – on top of her TV ad. In her radio ad Renee repeats her attacks saying George voted against farmers and against the U.S. Army. In her TV ad she says she’s out there fighting for conservative values, for the right to life, for less spending, for a…

A Shortage of Truth All Around

By Carter Wrenn May 12, 2016

Here’s a recap of George’s race with Renee so far: Renee came out swinging saying (on Facebook) how deeply she cared for the voters in her district while George Holding had voted against farmers and highways. George set that straight by explaining what had really happened: That what he had voted against was increasing Food…

The Old South State

By Gary Pearce May 11, 2016

A TAPster sent this satire (I think it’s satire): Things got so bad on Jones Street today that legislative leaders asked staff to research steps necessary for the state to secede from the Union. “We might as well,” said Senate leader Phil Berger. “The federal government is cutting off our money and services. We have…

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…