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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Wake Commissioners Split

By Gary Pearce June 9, 2015

Democrats may have 7-0 control of the Wake County Commissioners, but they are far from unanimous on school funding. In fact, they are engaged in a classic political debate: Do you move fast when you’re in control, at the risk of losing the next election? Or do you play a long game, moving slower now…

A Quagmire

By Carter Wrenn June 8, 2015

The Senate Bull Mooses have locked horns with the Opossum Drop Caucus over in the State House;—for years the Bull Mooses have hollered Medicaid spending was out of control and soaring but that turned out not to be so – that the Bull Mooses were simply spinning a yarn to accommodate their friends the MCOs…

Straightening Out the Mess?

By Carter Wrenn June 4, 2015

Former Ambassador John Bolton said the state of Iraq no longer exists and Chris Wallace shot back , One, what does that mean? Two, what are the ramifications? You could go back four thousand years and not unscramble all the knots in what used to be Mesopotamia – the Sumerians were conquered by the Assyrians…

Thrillary

By Gary Pearce June 4, 2015

It’s coming. Watch for it. Don’t be surprised. Sometime before next summer, Hillary Clinton’s coronation procession will stumble. Some Democrat will catch fire, get momentum and give her a scare. We Democrats are just made that way. We want drama. We always want a new face, a new name, something new, new, new. Most of…

Dangerous Places to Stand

By Carter Wrenn June 4, 2015

There are patches of ground that are innately dangerous: Edges of cliffs. Rivers of ice. Railroad tracks. No man’s land. After the State House passed its budget at 1am in the morning, eight hours later up popped an ad on Facebook lambasting Chief House Budget Writer Nelson Dollar for raising spending a billion dollars. Those…

A Dust Up

By Carter Wrenn June 3, 2015

It’s unusual to see a dust up in front of the TV cameras on NC Spin but when Brad Crone said Medicaid spending has been stable for three years the usually soft-spoken John Hood shot back, Brad’s incorrect. Crone leaned back, told Hood he needed to look at the audit reports that showed Medicaid spending…

Winning Wars, Losing Wars

By Gary Pearce June 3, 2015

Seventy years ago, America (and allies) had beaten Nazi Germany and were battering Imperial Japan – after three and half years of war. Forty years ago, America pulled out of Vietnam. After 11 years of war. Today, we’re still fighting – and not winning – a War Against Terrorism. After 13 years of war. Why…

Special EdNC

By Gary Pearce June 2, 2015

As newspapers shrink coverage and bleed talent, alternative forms of media pop up. Blogs like ours (“Wise and Balanced”), websites catering to the left and right, and even, occasionally, a responsible, informative and well-done news source like EdNC. EdNC is a daily online newspaper about education. That’s a short, clear and concise mission statement. Every…

Dems Get Clout

By Gary Pearce June 1, 2015

With two strokes of the pen – Governor McCrory’s vetoes – Democrats in the legislature suddenly got leverage. McCrory has split Republicans in the legislature. Now Democrats may have the balance of power when the legislature tries to override. The clout goes beyond the two bills the Governor vetoed. Democrats can use their leverage there…

Another School Study? Yes.

By Gary Pearce March 19, 2026

Some progressives groaned when Governor Josh Stein announced a bipartisan “Blue Ribbon Commission on Public Education”…

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…