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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Shafted

By Gary Pearce April 21, 2025

To understand politics today, we need to understand what happened the last 20-plus years. A good diagnosis comes from Rahm Emanuel (photo), a possible Democratic candidate for President in 2028. He’s been senior adviser to President Clinton, a member of Congress and a House Democratic leader, chief of staff to President Obama, mayor of Chicago…

A Puzzle…

By Carter Wrenn April 18, 2025

Elon Musk’s charged ahead out to cut spending – then an odd thing happened. Trump put a billionaire friend of Musk’s, who flew in outer space twice on Musk’s SpaceX rockets, in charge of NASA. Musk’s friend’s mission: To land astronauts on Mars. It’s odd. Like watching two boys in high school parading, saying they’re…

What’s Going On…

By Carter Wrenn April 17, 2025

Pouring gas on fires, living off division, the news media’s full of melodrama – headlines like: Trump, Roberts on collision course. (Loved by some, loathed by others, no one gets people’s attention like Trump – to boost their ratings Fox, CNN, MSNBC are all full of Trump stories.) Here’s another: Trump allies out to make…

Trumpty Dumpty

By Gary Pearce April 17, 2025

Trump boasted that the White House Easter Egg Roll this year will feature 30,000 real eggs. Which brings up the biggest broken promise in the history of politics. Last August, then-candidate Trump stood beside a table stacked with groceries: cereal, bacon, fruit, butter, bread and – yes, eggs. He promised: “When I win, I will…

A Mystery…

By Carter Wrenn April 16, 2025

White-haired, old-school Democrat, Daniel dropped a newspaper on the table beside Dillon, sat down. Young, cocky, brash, Trump Republican, Dillon pointed at the newspaper headline, baited Daniel. ‘Trump’s right. We’re getting shafted. Tariffs put a stop to rip-offs.’ Leaning back I asked: ‘Hitting China with tariffs sounds fine – but what about Canada? They’ve been…

Eighth Graders – Not Grown-Ups

By Carter Wrenn April 14, 2025

Striding onto stage, waving both arms, wearing a Wisconsin Green Bay Packers cheese hat, grinning, Elon Musk looked odd. Musk flew to Italy. Trump imposed reciprocal tariffs. Musk disagreed. On Fox News, the brain behind Trump’s tariffs Peter Navarro mocked Musk, added Musk buys batteries from China to build his Teslas. Musk shot back, called…

The Stein Way

By Gary Pearce April 14, 2025

Governor Josh Stein’s way could be Democrats’ way back to the White House in 2028. In his first 100 days, the Governor has led with calm, confidence and competence. It’s a welcome contrast to Trump’s chaos, conflict and confusion. Trump wages all-out war all the time with an endless list of enemies. Stein believes in…

Tillis’ Fate

By Gary Pearce April 10, 2025

Senator Thom Tillis wants to have it both ways. He wants MAGA Republicans to think he’s a loyal Trump foot soldier. He wants swing voters to think he’s an effective, independent voice. But, no matter what he does, he can’t escape Trump. His political fate in 2026 is lashed to Trump’s like Ahab to the…

Who’s After Publicity…

By Carter Wrenn April 10, 2025

Trump railed about radical left judges taking away his power, usurping his presidency, fumed one judge – James Boasberg – tried to stop him deporting ‘murderers, drug lords, and rapists.’ Next demanded the Supreme Court step in and stop that foolishness – and called Boasberg ‘a grandstander looking for publicity.’ That last part didn’t ring…

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…

Enough is Enough

By Gary Pearce March 11, 2026

Exactly 80 years ago, in 1946, Republicans took control of Congress with a simple message: “Had…