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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Demagogues

By Carter Wrenn June 12, 2024

A Democrat before he ran for Senate, in 1946 Joe McCarthy pulled off a rare feat: He beat a 3-term Republican Senator – in a Republican primary. The Soviet Union exploded its first A-bomb. Fear shook America. Standing on a stage in West Virginia, waving a sheet of paper, McCarthy said, ‘I have in my…

Mannequin versus Showman

By Carter Wrenn June 11, 2024

When they debate Biden’s going to need to take Trump head-on – but that may not be a task he’s up to. Why not? Washington politicians don’t talk – they read scripts, repeat lines savants promise will help elect them. But even reading strong lines, waving his hands, voice toneless, Biden sounds like a mannequin.…

Putin

By Carter Wrenn June 10, 2024

Shaking their heads lips set in hard lines, a lot of people growl, Don’t send another penny to Ukraine – Ukraine doesn’t matter to us. But take a look back at the past: First, Putin invaded the Republic of Georgia, then Crimea, then Donbas, then Ukraine. And to get what he wants he’s joined arms…

Two Good Things

By Gary Pearce June 10, 2024

Two things lately make me feel good about this election: Josh Stein’s devastating ad about Mark Robinson on abortion and Jeff Jackson’s assessment of Trump’s felony conviction. Stein’s ad skewers Robinson with his own words; he can’t duck, dodge or deny them. Even worse is Robinson’s demeanor: angry, hateful and hostile to women. The ad’s…

A Backfire

By Carter Wrenn June 7, 2024

Clutching the podium, jaw set, getting booed, at the Libertarian Convention Trump tried to cut a deal: He offered to put a Libertarian in his cabinet if Libertarians endorsed him – then, staring at ‘Free Ross’ signs, made a second promise: His first day in office he’d pardon Ross Ulbricht. Who is Ross Ulbricht? He…

Paying a Price Either Way

By Carter Wrenn June 6, 2024

The subject line on the top of Trump’s email leaped up off the page: ‘They were authorized to shoot me.’ He roared on, down the same road: ‘They’re just itching to do the unthinkable…locked and loaded Joe Biden’s FBI was ready to take me out.’ Was the FBI itching to assassinate Trump the day it…

Why Rachel Hunt? Why LG?

By Gary Pearce June 6, 2024

I asked a friend to make a campaign contribution to Rachel Hunt, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, and he asked me, “Why does the lieutenant governor matter?” Here’s why. As Lieutenant Governor, Hunt will preside over the Senate – unlike Mark Robinson, who handed over his gavel to the Republican Senate leader, Phil Berger.…

Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place

By Carter Wrenn June 5, 2024

Ole Joe Biden’s lived and breathed in the swamp for 50 years; adroit, clever, making deals handed him power, power led to fame and, after his son and brother became lobbyists, led to family money. Clever, but in a different way, standing in the spotlight, as a showman Trump’s in a league of his own.…

No Defending Trump

By Gary Pearce June 4, 2024

It’s striking what Republican politicians didn’t say after Trump was convicted of 34 counts of felony falsification of business records. They didn’t say, “Trump is an honest businessman. He’d never falsify business records.” Or, “Trump is a fine family man. He’d never cheat on his wife with a porn star.” Or, “Trump is an honest…

Obama 48-Trump 39

By Gary Pearce April 26, 2026

A new nationwide poll shows that, if they could run against each other in 2028, Barack…

“Conservative Successes”?

By Gary Pearce April 23, 2026

Senator Phil Berger was out of touch with voters in his district – and suffered the…

Rise and Fall

By Gary Pearce April 21, 2026

A reassuring lesson from our trip to Germany and Czechia is that dictators, despots and tyrants…