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 Media Just Can’t Get It Right

By Carter Wrenn October 17, 2023

The New York Times ran a story saying Trump got indicted for saying ‘the election was stolen – going on and on the Times spelled out Trump’s ‘false statements’ like claiming ‘In Detroit, turnout was 139 percent of registered voters’ when turnout in Detroit was really 51%. But if spinning tales was a crime jails…

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Birdbrain

By Carter Wrenn October 16, 2023

Nikki Haley moved up to second place in New Hampshire and South Carolina, passing Ron DeSanctis, and Trump’s antennae twitched – Trump called Haley a ‘birdbrain,’ sent her an empty birdcage. Haley moved up, Trump gave her a nickname.

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The New Era

By Carter Wrenn October 13, 2023

Thirty years ago when the Cold War ended, after the Soviet Union collapsed we were the world’s dominant power, stronger than all our enemies combined. Time passed. We lost a long war in Iraq, fled Afghanistan – cracks appeared. A year ago, Russia started a war in Europe. A week ago, Iran’s proxy Hamas started…

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Politicizing Tragedy

By Gary Pearce October 13, 2023

North Carolina Republicans see this awful time in Israel and Gaza as a wonderful time for politics. Lt. Governor Mark Robinson proclaimed himself “Acting Governor” and proclaimed a Day of Prayer for Israel. Pesky reporters promptly hounded him on his history of anti-Semitic, Holocaust-denying statements. State Rep. Erin Paré of Wake County attacked 12 House…

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Charming and Bland

By Carter Wrenn October 12, 2023

Years ago sitting in a restaurant in Raleigh at dinner listening to a young Congressman talking I thought, Charming and bland. Charming and bland worked in Congress until he ran head-on into a wild-eyed Matt Gaetz: It took 15 votes to elect Kevin McCarthy Speaker – then one vote sent charming and bland packing.

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Pure Politics

By Carter Wrenn October 11, 2023

Running for Governor Andy Wells and Mark Walker asked Mark Robinson to join them in opposing casinos. Robinson, who likes to talk tough, act fearless, sidestepping, dodging, didn’t say a word to stop the State Senate’s ‘Casino Bill’…the bill died in the House in Raleigh on a Tuesday night and the next morning, back to…

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A Whopper of a Lie

By Gary Pearce October 11, 2023

A student writing a paper on political fact-checking asked me about this statement by Lt. Governor Mark Robinson: “I’ve consistently supported our teachers, believing they deserve more respect, pay, and support.” A Whopper that big should be served at Burger King. Robinson, a Republican candidate for governor, is the most anti-teacher, anti-public-school politician in North…

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Losing Streak

By Gary Pearce October 10, 2023

If North Carolina Democrats want to become a governing party by 2030, we need to face up to harsh history. In 2016, Democrats had hope. We won back the governor’s office, held onto the attorney general’s office and won a majority on the Supreme Court. But it’s been downhill in the three elections since –…

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Office Politics

By Gary Pearce October 6, 2023

Why are House Speakers from North Carolina obsessed with office size? N.C. Congressman Patrick McHenry, the Interim U.S. House Speaker with the big gavel and little bowtie, kicked former Speaker Nancy Pelosi out of her Capitol office. He was mad because Pelosi and the Democrats didn’t rescue House Republicans from their circular firing squad. In…

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Hitting the Nail on the Head

By Carter Wrenn December 27, 2024

Staring at a title, tempted by two words, I clicked – it looked like a knife…

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Cooper for President

By Gary Pearce December 27, 2024

Roy Cooper could be just what the Democratic Party will need in 2028. A progressive with…

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Another Story from Politics

By Carter Wrenn December 24, 2024

Watergate sunk Nixon. Jimmy Carter was elected. Two years later Jesse Helms ran for reelection. In…

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