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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Last Night

By Carter Wrenn April 2, 2025

Last night Trump took a blow – in Florida and Wisconsin support for Republican candidates dropped ten-plus points. That drop’s more than a turnout skew. People who voted for Trump in 2024 voted against candidates he endorsed this election. Why? The media’s pointing the finger at Elon Musk. But that doesn’t sound right. One thing…

Dogs of War

By Gary Pearce April 2, 2025

One thing Trump did right his first term was not starting a war. This time, he – and his national security gang that can’t text straight – are determined to let slip the dogs of war all over the world: Greenland, China, Canada, Panama and Gaza. He wants to take over Greenland: “I think there’s…

Not Practical

By Carter Wrenn March 31, 2025

Born and bred in New York, a dealmaker, TV star, Trump has his own way of looking at things. Take Ukraine: Back during the Cold War, to stop the Soviet Union, presidents made alliances. Like NATO. That kept us safe. A dealmaker, sitting in the Oval Office, Trump sees alliances as financial transactions, looks at…

The Old Rebel

By Gary Pearce March 31, 2025

Jefferson Griffin is certainly consistent in his beliefs. In college, he celebrated the “Lost Cause” myth of the Confederacy. Now he champions the myth of his Lost Election. Griffin lost his race for Supreme Court, just as the South lost the Civil War. But he won’t accept his defeat, just as his Kappa Alpha fraternity…

Cutting Spending

By Carter Wrenn March 28, 2025

Once again it’s not what Trump did, it’s how he did it. Congress appropriates money. The president spends it. If Trump doesn’t like how much Congress spends he can veto the spending. Or he can tell Congress ‘cut this waste now’ – and if Congress tells him no he can take his case to voters,…

Signals Crossed

By Gary Pearce March 27, 2025

Who among us hasn’t accidentally hit “reply all” on a group text or email? Or sent a message to the wrong person? Of course we have. Of course, we didn’t disclose a military operation’s timing, targets and weapons on a hackable, non-secure messaging platform – and put a magazine editor on the text chain. If…

Deporting Gang Members

By Carter Wrenn March 26, 2025

The problem’s not Trump deporting Tren de Aragua gang members – that’s a good idea. The problem’s how he did it. Locked in jail five deportees sued, told the judge they were not Tren de Aragua gang members – all Trump had to do was prove they were. But didn’t. So staring at Trump’s lawyers…

An Old Doctrine

By Carter Wrenn March 24, 2025

Politics just gets stranger and stranger. Trump ordered around 200 Tren de Aragua gang members deported – the ACLU filed a lawsuit, told a judge five of the deportees weren’t Tren de Aragua gang members. All Trump had to do was prove the ACLU was wrong. But he didn’t. Instead his lawyers said he had…

Bernie and AOC

By Gary Pearce March 24, 2025

Are Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez too far left? Many Americans think they’re right. An astounding 86,000 people turned out in Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico last week for “Fighting Oligarchy” rallies starring the 83-year-old Senator and 35-year-old Congresswoman. “We will not allow you to move this country into an oligarchy,” Sanders thundered to Trump.…

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…