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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As Rome is Burning

By Carter Wrenn December 17, 2015

Sunday morning I stayed in bed, read the newspapers and watched the morning political shows and when I was done I’d learned two facts: No one in the Democratic political elite, the Republican elite, or the media elite likes Donald Trump. He’s lower than a snake’s belly in a wagon rut to all of them.…

Strange Budfellows

By Gary Pearce December 16, 2015

There was anti-union, pro-free market Phil Berger. On a Teamsters Union truck. Decrying corporate plans to close the MillerCoors plant in Eden. I’m reminded of that great political philosopher, Groucho Marx, who once said, “Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them… well, I have others.”  

In defense of Woodland

By Gary Pearce December 15, 2015

Two people say something stupid, the Internet goes crazy and a fine little town gets smeared around the world. I rise in defense of Woodland, North Carolina. Regrettably, I’m not defending the town against the usual hit squad of right-wing Republicans who stereotype people, like Muslims and gays. This time, the stereotyping is by some…

WRAL’s climate change

By Gary Pearce December 14, 2015

Greg Fishel says he took a while to change his mind on climate change. Then he got a quick lesson in politics. Richard Stradling wrote in the N&O (“Climate change reversal puts brighter spotlight on weatherman Greg Fishel”): Fishel’s change in thinking has showed him how divided Americans are on this subject and others. It…

Gone a Little Haywire

By Carter Wrenn December 10, 2015

Terrorism may just turn out to be the death-knell of political correctness. The day after the California attacks the Attorney General announced “her greatest” fear isn’t more attacks – it’s ‘hate speech’ against Muslims. That landed with a thud. Then Loretta Lynch went on to explain that the attacks had also created “a wonderful opportunity……

An Obstacle Standing in the Way

By Carter Wrenn December 9, 2015

Saturday morning the New York Times ran a front page article about the attack in California and, right next to it, for the first time in 90 years, it ran a front page editorial – calling for more gun control. Think about that: In California terrorists killed Americans and, in New York, the Times wants…

Is Trump 2016’s Ross Perot?

By Gary Pearce December 9, 2015

Didn’t we see this movie before? A billionaire with a big ego and a bigger mouth seizes the stage, runs for President as an independent and ends up electing President Clinton. That was Ross Perot in 1992. Now Donald Trump is warning he may go third-party next year. Visions of Republican chaos and a Clinton…

This is your chance, Chris Christie

By Gary Pearce December 8, 2015

The worse Donald Trump gets, the better his poll numbers get. Once again, he owns the national political debate because he goes where no one else dares to go. And when you go where even Dick Cheney and the South Carolina Republican Party chair won’t go, you’ve left the gravitational pull of Earth. It’s time…

Sillier and Sillier

By Carter Wrenn December 8, 2015

Sunday, after the attack in California, President Obama spoke to the nation and laid out his best ideas to stop terrorism: War is still out. There is no way we’re going to use overwhelming force. It’s not in his make-up. And using the words Muslim Terrorist is still off the table. What’s in? Gun Control.…

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…