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 legislature’s amazing achievement

By Gary Pearce July 21, 2015

You’ve got to hand it to ‘em. You thought it was impossible. But the North Carolina legislature did it: They made South Carolina look progressive. South Carolina took down the Confederate flag, while our legislature is making it impossible to take down Confederate statues and monuments. Falling behind the rest of the South is par…

Defending Andy Jackson

By Gary Pearce July 20, 2015

First Rob Christensen defended keeping Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill. Then I suggested taking Andrew Jackson off the $20. Now a TAPster speaks up for Jackson. Old Hickory, he said in a voicemail, was “a man of the people who saved America from a plutocracy.” Plus, when Jackson was President, “the common man could…

The New N&O

By Gary Pearce July 17, 2015

Long-time reader J. Fred doesn’t like the new-look N&O. “They can spin it all they want, but all I see is less news. It looks like a coloring book, not a newspaper.” I didn’t know whether to be offended or complimented when he added, “Hell, you and Carter have more to read in one of…

Trumped

By Gary Pearce July 16, 2015

Democrats are cheering and Republicans are chafing as Donald Trump hogs the spotlight. Presumably, at some point he will implode or get tired of the game. But how much damage will he do to the Republican brand by then? And suppose he keeps going through the debates, through the primaries and maybe even through November…

$8.3 Million Each

By Carter Wrenn July 16, 2015

Here’s all you need know about the President’s plan to defeat ISIS: Right now, he’s training 60 rebels in Syria to whip ISIS. The cost? $500 million. Or $8.3 million per rebel. Meantime, after we’ve lost two wars (in Afghanistan and the first war in Iraq) he’s decided to cut the size of our army…

Atticus Finch, a racist?

By Gary Pearce July 15, 2015

Say it ain’t so, Harper Lee. How can the upright icon of To Kill a Mockingbird become the twisted racist of Go Set a Watchman? Your fans are gobsmacked. But Southerners of a certain age get it. Take two TAPsters who recall their grandfather, a prominent judge and Democratic Party power back in the day.…

A Blessing in Disguise

By Carter Wrenn July 15, 2015

According to PEW Research, during the past two Congresses 19,709 bills were introduced – and only 3% were enacted into law. Which sounds pretty abysmal. But stop to think about it: How much more harm could Congress have done if they’d passed, say, 4%?

Since Little Bighorn

By Carter Wrenn July 14, 2015

Since Little Bighorn The President trooped over to the Pentagon to work on his plan to whip ISIS then came out of the meeting and announced: We’re leading a 60 member coalition against ISIS.           Huh? Who’re the other 59 nations? That ideas – not guns – defeat ideologies.           You go to Ramadi and…

Pure Power Play

By Carter Wrenn July 13, 2015

Flexing its muscles, the Republican Establishment decided to put Donald Trump in his place – but missed that while Trump may be part whacko he’s also pure cutthroat: When the GOP Doyens sitting around the bar in the Capitol Hill Club in the basement of the Republican Headquarters in Washington tore into Trump (on immigration)…

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…