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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Hedging

By Carter Wrenn October 5, 2023

“I think they’re all going to like me – I think both sides are going to like me.” Trump took a breath, said he’d make a deal with liberals and conservatives on abortion both like. Meet the Press’ Kristen Welker, facing Trump, asked whether he’d abolish abortion after 6 weeks, like DeSantis did in Florida.…

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Trump’s Trap

By Gary Pearce October 5, 2023

If Republicans nominate Donald Trump next year, they’ll make the fatal mistake of making the election about Trump, not the American people. Their best chance to win is to attack Biden on the economy. But if Trump’s the candidate, he’ll make it all about him: his trials, grievances and threats of retribution. A majority of…

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The Disconnect

By Carter Wrenn October 4, 2023

Strolling onto stage, speaking to a Christian group, Trump stopped, grinned, blonde hair awhirl enjoying the applause, stepped to the podium, told a story, purred to the audience, “I love you. And I hope you love me.” Two miles away DeSantis, speaking to another Christian group, strode to the microphone, voice clipped said: “When you…

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Who’s That?

By Gary Pearce October 3, 2023

A recent Meredith College poll shows why you shouldn’t pay attention to early polls. Asked to identify photos of North Carolina’s top elected officials, most voters had no clue. 80% did identify Roy Cooper, who’s been governor for seven years and attorney general for 16 years. Still, 20% didn’t know him. And these were voters,…

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Trump on Abortion

By Carter Wrenn October 3, 2023

Years ago the Supreme Court made abortion legal – after that there were no limits on abortion the first trimester (12 weeks) of pregnancy, some limits on abortion in the second trimester, and, in the third trimester states could prohibit abortions. Back then conservatives, believing a fetus was a living being, called themselves ‘pro-life,’ said…

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A Pig in a Poke

By Carter Wrenn October 2, 2023

Face aglow, without a doubt in his voice, Trump said he’d end the Ukraine War in 24 hours. Vladimir Putin praised Trump. Trump boasted on Meet the Press, “I like that he said that. Because that means what I’m saying is right. I would get him into a room. Then I’d bring them together. And…

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10 O’clock on Election Night

By Carter Wrenn September 29, 2023

On Meet the Press Trump told Kristen Welker there were lawyers in his administration, and lawyers in his campaign, who told him the ‘election wasn’t stolen’ – but then Trump added, he knew personally, the election was stolen at ‘10 o’clock on election night.’ Now stop and think about that for a moment: At 10…

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Idolatry

By Carter Wrenn September 28, 2023

A young man sitting at dinner in a crowded restaurant leaned back. “I work with three Trumpsters. They love Trump. I asked one, ‘When Trump says he can end the Ukraine war in 24 hours – do you believe that?’ He absolutely did. 100%. Why can’t he see what Trump said was silly?” I nodded:…

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Keep Kamala

By Gary Pearce September 28, 2023

The single most suicidal, self-defeating thing Democrats could do is drop Vice President Kamala Harris from the ticket in 2024. Some Democrats want to, but that’s short-sighted. They don’t see the punch and power she brings to the ticket. Most important, she’s ready to be President now. She was a tough prosecutor who put sexual…

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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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