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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Twitter Patter

By Gary Pearce February 9, 2012

Just before the game last night, Bob Etheridge – or @Etheridge4Gov – tweeted: “Who are you all pulling for in the big game tonight? Both UNC and Duke are good teams, it will be a close one – that’s for sure.”   Someone shot back: “bob, gonna need you to take a stand on this…

The Wright Brothers

By Carter Wrenn February 8, 2012

Most mornings I plod up the sidewalk to the driveway, pick up the News and Observer, then plod back to the kitchen and read the paper. But Wednesday morning my routine got discombobulated so I ended up reading the paper at my office on-line – and promptly landed on this diverting headline: Romney favored as…

Susan G. Komen and the Anatomy of a Social Media Wildfire, including a guest appearance by @rachelsklar

By nationhahn February 8, 2012

Few would dispute that Susan G. Komen Foundation has dramatically helped advance the fight for a cure for breast cancer. The organization has helped make pink the national color for October, elevating the search for a cure to the top of the national dialogue for an entire month. Its work has resulted in NFL players…

Bob Etheridge and Reason

By Carter Wrenn February 8, 2012

Last week when former-Congressman and newly-announced-candidate-for-Governor Bob Etheridge was asked if he would support the Constitutional Amendment banning gay marriage he said that decision was in the people’s hands and he was 100% for whatever the people decided because the people were always right.   Yesterday, Etheridge lost his faith in the people. He announced…

Unfit for Duty

By Gary Pearce February 8, 2012

A lot of facts and statistics were thrown around at the Emerging Issues Forum on Generation Z, but here’s one that stunned me – from Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus:   Three out of four Americans between 18 and 24 are not qualified to join a branch of the military.  That’s 75 percent.  …

Warp Speed

By Gary Pearce February 8, 2012

It’s always easy to forget how fast things can change in politics. Then they do.   Two weeks ago, the governor’s race had settled into a predictable story line: “Governor Perdue in a tough race for reelection against the same opponent she beat four years ago.”   Today that story has disappeared. All the buzz…

Bob Etheridge’s Vision

By Carter Wrenn February 7, 2012

Bob Etheridge stepped to the podium, grasped the microphone and intoned solemnly, ‘This is a defining moment in history’ – then the next words out of his mouth were he’s running for Governor.   Because, he added, as the son of a Harnett County tenant farmer he understands North Carolina’s ‘journey.’   Where on earth…

Talking About GenZers

By Gary Pearce February 7, 2012

I’m one of the GenGeezers attending this year’s Emerging Issues Forum about GenZers – those born 1990-on.   They’re facing a changing and challenging economy. Their jobs will last an average of four years. They have an average college debt of $20,000. One-third of them are obese or overweight. They send an average of 3,000-plus…

Tillis and the Media

By Gary Pearce February 7, 2012

This topic is left over from when I was gone, but it demands comment.   Thom Tillis threw another temper tantrum at the media.   This is astoundingly bad judgment. Tillis got great media coverage through most of last year – the session and his listening tour. Things went sour after the midnight override of…

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…