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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Party Pooper

By Gary Pearce January 20, 2015

There’s good news and there’s bad news about the true state of the N.C. Democratic Party.   The bad news is that the actual financial situation is worse than it looks. Much of the $42,700 that the party has on hand belongs to the House and Senate caucuses.   That’s also the good news, because…

Silence of the Rams

By Gary Pearce January 19, 2015

Is there something in the water in Chapel Hill that keeps University big shots from giving straight answers? The same lockjaw that keeps the UNC-CH athletic-academic scandal on the front pages has now spread to the Board of Governors.   The board’s non-speak/double-speak non-explanation of why Tom Ross was forced out leaves only one logical…

Righteousness

By Carter Wrenn January 16, 2015

The mystery isn’t how he died; it’s the Department of Prisons’ silence.   Michael Kerr was in and out of trouble with the law for a decade – he was a thief, assaulted a woman and tried to outrun a policeman in a patrol car – then two crimes committed against him left him on…

0-3 Start for Pat?

By Gary Pearce January 15, 2015

On their first day in session, legislative leaders sent a message to Governor McCrory: We’re back, and we’re in charge.   McCrory has talked about three things in recent weeks: He wants more money for economic incentives, he may want to expand Medicaid and he wants a Dix deal with Raleigh (not Charlotte).   In…

Obama’s Fail

By Gary Pearce January 14, 2015

Two headlines this week tell why even President Obama’s fans despair sometimes.   First, while Obama and his staff focused on rolling out his free-community college proposal, they neglected to send anybody to the biggest story in the world: the Paris rally against terror. Second, while the President was giving a speech on cybersecurity, our…

Paul’s Conversion

By Gary Pearce January 13, 2015

Has Rep. Paul Tine found the promised land – or no man’s land?   Tine, who was elected twice as a Democrat, says he can help his district by switching to unaffiliated and caucusing with House Republicans.   But will it help him or hurt him in 2016?   Voters clearly have no love for…

More Powerful than Magic

By Carter Wrenn January 12, 2015

Obama stands on a stage in Tennessee and promises nine million people he’ll give them $3,800 a year each (on average) and the press coos he’s made a “dramatic announcement” then a skeptic asks how Obama’ll come up with the money and Obama has the White House staff tell him, ‘That’s beside the point.’  …

Pass McCroryCare

By Carter Wrenn January 12, 2015

Here’s an idea for Democratic legislators, one that could be good politics and good for North Carolina: Help Governor McCrory pass his plan for Medicaid expansion.   After meeting with President Obama at the White House last week, McCrory said he argued for flexibility to develop a “North Carolina plan.” But, as Carter noted during…

Watch Us on WRAL

By Gary Pearce January 9, 2015

David Crabtree and Mark Binker of WRAL hosted Carter and me for this weekend’s “On the Record” show. We talked about the new Congress, the political landscape, Richard Burr’s reelection race, Governor McCrory and Medicaid, Paul Tine’s switcheroo and Jeb Bush.   The show airs Saturday at 7 pm, or whenever basketball ends. It will…

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…