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 Dark Side

By Gary Pearce August 14, 2023

  Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson foretold Donald Trump 50 years ago when he wrote this about Richard Nixon: “(Nixon) represents that dark, venal and incurably violent side of the American character…. He speaks for the Werewolf in us; the bully, the predatory shyster who turns into something unspeakable, full of claws and bleeding string-warts…

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Rolling the Dice

By Gary Pearce August 10, 2023

Twenty years ago, Republicans opposed the North Carolina Education Lottery on “moral” grounds. Now they can’t break ground fast enough on casinos across the state. Campaign donations are flowing like free drinks on a casino floor. Lobbyists are hitting the jackpot. It’s not just Republicans. Some Democrats say casinos are good for North Carolina. I’m…

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All About Tricia

By Gary Pearce August 7, 2023

Why did once-progressive state Rep. Tricia Cotham switch to Donald Trump’s Republican Party? Because she’s just like Trump: Politics is all about her. That comes clear in an insightful article by Kate Kelly and David Perlmutt of The New York Times, “Inside the Party Switch That Blew Up North Carolina Politics.” A friend in Charlotte…

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Rule of Law

By Gary Pearce August 2, 2023

Prosecutor Jack Smith proved yesterday that, in a world of coups and dictators, America is still a nation of law and justice. A grand jury of ordinary Americans indicted Donald Trump for trying, as President, to overturn the 2020 election. Trump will keep defying the rule of law. He will keep lying. Some 37% of…

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Echoing Neville Chamberlain

By Carter Wrenn August 1, 2023

Back during the Cold War, veterans who’d fought in World War II watched Vietnam, Cuba, countries in Africa, Asia, Central America fall to the Soviet Union; determined to stop Russia, conservatives, like Ronald Reagan, said three words: ‘Peace through strength’ – liberals answered: ‘Détente.’ It looks like we’re heading into a new Cold War with…

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Hot Political News

By Carter Wrenn July 31, 2023

Trump tweeted out a picture of Christie and Obama, said Christie helped sink Romney; Christie tweeted out a eighteen year old photo of Trump and Hillary, shot back he didn’t invite Hillary to his wedding. A GOP Congressman ripped the Biden Administration for hiding UFOs. Biden’s dog bit his Secret Service agents ten times, one…

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The Truth

By Gary Pearce July 31, 2023

Carter Wrenn and I don’t argue a lot, even though we disagree often. But I’m taking issue with him today. He wrote last week, “… it’s time to put politics aside and look for an honest answer to the question: Who stole the election? Biden? Or Trump?” No, we know the answer. Trump’s lawyers took…

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Young Voices

By Gary Pearce July 28, 2023

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes is closer to my age than to young voters, but he gets why Democrats should listen to them – and understand their life experiences. On our Zoom conversation last week with state Democratic Chair Anderson Clayton, Fontes said: “I didn’t grow up in a world where I had to…

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Our Better Angels

By Carter Wrenn July 28, 2023

“If we’re ever going to find our better angels again, it has to start with us setting the example of how to disagree better.” – Utah Governor Spencer Cox Republicans and Democrats now live in separate worlds; each watches their own cable news network; they quarrel, bicker, every day in Congress; political wars are meaner…

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Recessional

By Carter Wrenn November 11, 2024

The tumult and the shouting dies; The Captains and the Kings depart: Still stands Thine ancient…

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Mistakes and Miss-Takes

By Gary Pearce November 10, 2024

Bert Bennett of Winston-Salem, the legendary political godfather to Terry Sanford and Jim Hunt, had a…

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Don’t Give Up

By Gary Pearce November 6, 2024

This is bad. Bad for America and for the world. Bad for women, for immigrants, for…

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