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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Losing Round One

By Gary Pearce June 15, 2011

When I fled the country just before Memorial Day, Governor Perdue had the upper hand in her PR battle with the GOP over the budget. But she lost it.   She lost the battle – at least in the short term – because she couldn’t get the votes to sustain her veto. In politics, like…

It Was a Good Deal

By Gary Pearce June 14, 2011

John Edwards should have taken the deal.   He could have pled guilty to misdemeanors – not felonies. The circus would be over. There would be no trial – and no risk of a worse result. There would be no more leaks, no more tabloid headlines and no more sordid disclosures.   Yes, there might…

A Presidential Preview

By Gary Pearce June 13, 2011

President Obama’s visit to the Triangle today is a taste of what’s to come: a presidential race that turns on jobs and North Carolina.   (I told one TV reporter he’s in for a good year: “You’ll have a lot to cover, and your station will sell a lot of ads.” It will be a…

The Biggest Contract in State Government

By Carter Wrenn June 13, 2011

It’s the biggest contract in state government. The $265 million Medicaid claims processing contract. And it’s awarded by Secretary Lanier Cansler’s department.   For years the contract was managed by EDS Corporation, but during Cansler’s first stint at DHHS (when Mike Easley was Governor) the contract was awarded to another corporation – ACS Corporation. Which…

What I Missed

By Gary Pearce June 13, 2011

Here’s what I gleaned from two days of catching up with the news of the past two weeks:   John Edwards got indicted. And promptly dug himself a deeper hole by jumping in front of the cameras.   The aptly named Anthony Weiner imploded online. Newt Gingrich imploded at sea. (“Imploded” may be to 2012…

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

By Gary Pearce June 13, 2011

Probably nobody ever cares what you did on your vacation. But here it is anyway.   We spent a week in Paris and saw most everything, including Notre Dame, the Louvre, Shakespeare & Co. bookstore, the Marais, the French military museum (I didn’t know it was DeGaulle who won the war!), big crowds at the…

Cansler Strikes Again

By Carter Wrenn June 9, 2011

Lobbyist turned Cabinet Secretary (and No-Bid-Contract-Awarder) Lanier Cansler has landed himself back in court. Sued for the third time.   What’s got Cansler in a mess this time is his predilection for nursing homes – he seems to be about the only person in North Carolina who thinks it’s better to put an elderly person…

Screaming Bloody Murder

By Carter Wrenn June 8, 2011

The Democrat head of the State Board of Education has gotten himself worked up into such a state about the Republican budget and the Republicans ruining public schools he’s one step from either bursting an artery or starting a riot.   To hear him tell it Governor Perdue’s budget will bring light to education and…

Skating on Thin Ice

By Carter Wrenn June 7, 2011

Talk about a fellow coming up a day late and a dollar short.   Sunday there was a picture in the newspaper of John Edwards standing beside his ‘P.R. specialist’ in front of the courthouse where he’d just been indicted.   Unfortunately for Edwards restoring his dented image is beyond the arts of the cleverest…

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…