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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Capital Corruption

By Gary Pearce November 15, 2023

Corruption will be big in North Carolina politics in 2024. As soon as House Speaker Tim Moore (pictured) announced his run for Congress, his Republican opponent Pat Harrigan, a former Army Green Beret who won two Bronze Stars in Afghanistan, ambushed him: “Tim Moore carries a legacy of corruption, from being bought and paid for…

Media Polls

By Carter Wrenn November 14, 2023

Gary and I disagree a lot when it comes to politics but after reading his article yesterday about ‘Media Polls’ I thought, Amen. A New York Times poll ‘predicted disaster for Biden and Democrats in big states a year from now’ – but, as Gary pointed out, two days later, Democrats swept elections in ‘big…

He’s a Fascist

By Gary Pearce November 14, 2023

Donald Trump’s Veterans Day speech in New Hampshire sounded right out of a 1930s Nuremberg rally. The Washington Post: “Trump calls political enemies ‘vermin,’ echoing Hitler and Mussolini.” Forbes: “Trump Compares Political Foes to ‘Vermin’ on Veterans Day, Echoing Nazi Propaganda.” Trump vowed to “root out…the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the…

Ignore Media Polls

By Gary Pearce November 13, 2023

A week ago, The New York Times published a poll predicting disaster for President Biden and Democrats in big states a year from now. Two days later, voters gave Democrats big victories in big states: Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Why are media polls so wrong so often? My suspicion: they’re done on the cheap.…

Oblivious on Abortion

By Gary Pearce November 10, 2023

It was THE story of Tuesday’s elections, but Wednesday night it took NBC 90 minutes to ask Republican presidential candidates about abortion. Their answers were tortured, because Republicans know they’re in trouble on the issue. But why didn’t NBC ask them sooner and push them harder? Why is big media so oblivious to the power…

Abortion Lies

By Gary Pearce November 9, 2023

Watching Democrats and abortion rights win across the country Tuesday night, I tweeted: “Just a reminder that Mark Robinson and NC Republicans want a total ban on abortion, including in cases of rape and incest.” Several Republicans tweeted back, “That’s a lie.” One said, “It’s a lie. Please stop.” No. It’s true. And I won’t…

The Donkey Kicks Back

By Gary Pearce November 8, 2023

Polls don’t predict. And media chatter don’t matter. Democrats across the country – and North Carolina – showed yesterday what matters: abortion rights, good candidates like Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky, and the hard work of organizing, raising money and communicating with voters about issues that matter. And democracy matters. As a wise old Democrat…

Poll Panic

By Gary Pearce November 6, 2023

The New York Times sent Democrats across America into shock Sunday morning with this story: “Trump Leads in 5 Critical States as Voters Blast Biden, Times/Siena Poll Finds.” There are three ways to look at this. First, don’t panic At the first poll briefing I ever went to, in Jim Hunt’s first campaign for governor…

The River

By Gary Pearce November 3, 2023

When I introduced Chair Anderson Clayton at a Democratic Party fundraiser this week, I told the crowd about her first meeting with Governor Jim Hunt. I told them how Hunt and Clayton connected despite the 60 years between them. It took me back to when I was about Clayton’s age, and working to elect Hunt…

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…