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.

CarterWrenn200x271

Carter Wrenn

Gary Pearce 2024

Gary Pearce

Archives

Categories

Vivek, Again

By Carter Wrenn November 27, 2023

The sideshow rolls on – Vivek Ramaswamy just can’t stop whacking Ronna McDaniel. On Twitter he said, ‘I’m sick and tired of this Republican Establishment that has made us a party of losers.’ Vivek then told grassroot conservatives to go to his website and sign his petition to ‘FireRonna.’ Vivek’s feud rolls on. It’s quirky.…

Trump-slayer?

By Gary Pearce November 25, 2023

Nikki Haley is having a media moment. The New York Times and Politico say she’s the rising Not-Trump Republican. I’m torn here. Given the threat Trump poses to democracy and the free world, I’m for anybody who can stop him. But if Haley slays the Trump dragon, she’ll be a formidable opponent for President Biden…

Who’s the Leaker?

By Carter Wrenn November 24, 2023

The headline across the top of the page said: ‘Trump power grab comes into focus in leaked Georgia videos.’ Someone had leaked videos of Trump lawyers Jenna Ellis and Sidney Powell being questioned by prosecutors to ABC News. The leaked videos bruised Trump but also bruised Fani Willis the D.A. prosecuting Trump. Trump claims Willis…

Go With Grandpa

By Gary Pearce November 24, 2023

President Biden passes the most consequential social and economic legislation in decades, despite dysfunctional D.C. Republicans. He rallies the free world behind Ukraine. He skillfully steers us through the dangerous and domestically divisive war in Gaza. But he stumbles on a word or a stage and the media writes that he’s old and Democrats should…

Trump’s Trial

By Carter Wrenn November 22, 2023

Should people be able to watch Mark Meadows sitting on the witness stand testifying against Trump on TV? The prosecutors say no. Trump says yes. Watching the trial on TV means you’ll be able to see whether Meadows sounds honest or shifty, whether the judge is fair or unfair. Not watching the trial means counting…

JFK

By Gary Pearce November 21, 2023

In September 1960, John F. Kennedy brought his campaign for President to Raleigh. My parents, strong Democrats, supported him. They read that he and his entourage would stop at Glenwood Village Shopping Center a couple of miles from our house and get into a motorcade to Reynolds Coliseum at N.C. State College for a night-time…

The World of RNC Politics

By Carter Wrenn November 21, 2023

After Ronna McDaniel‘s spat with Vivek Ramaswamy the RNC stumbled again, telling Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott if they participated in the Christian Family Leader Forum in Iowa it’d ban them from the next Republican Presidential debate. Nikki Haley and Tom Scott didn’t say a word, sat silent. But Ron DeSantis fired back he…

A Piece of the Political World

By Carter Wrenn November 20, 2023

Vivek Ramaswamy’s fast-talking, quirky, untouched by humility and staring at Ronna McDaniel sitting in the audience at the last debate picked a fight: ‘Since Ronna McDaniel took over as chairwoman of the RNC in 2017, we lost in 2018, 2020, 2022. We got trounced last night in 2023. Ronna, if you come on stage tonight…

Picking Apart Polls

By Gary Pearce November 17, 2023

My opinion of the Meredith College poll is higher than of media polls – because of David McLennan, professor of political science at Meredith and director of the poll. Responding to my blog questioning media polls, McLennan said we shouldn’t overreact to any poll now, for two reasons: “1. It is too early. There is…

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…