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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Eyes on Russia

By Gary Pearce June 24, 2023

While we were obsessing over billionaires at the bottom of the ocean, a civil war broke out in Russia. In 1917, civil war in Russia led to the fall of the Tsar and the rise of communism and the Soviet Union. In 1991, armed conflict in Moscow led to the breakup of the Soviet Union,…

Dining With Democrats

By Gary Pearce June 23, 2023

I’m doing something Saturday I haven’t done in years: go to a Democratic Party dinner. There, I’ll remember a man who is little known to Democrats, but meant a lot to me – and to North Carolina. The occasion is the state party Unity Dinner. I’ve done my time at these things. I’ve half-eaten too…

“Deeply Sad” Abortion Ad?

By Gary Pearce June 21, 2023

A right-wing blog took a swing this week at Rachel Hunt’s abortion ad – and at her father, former Governor Jim Hunt. In a blog headlined “Rachel Hunt releases deeply sad campaign video,” Andrew Dunn wrote in Longleaf Politics: “State Sen. Rachel Hunt is making the abortion issue the centerpiece of her campaign for lieutenant…

Mandy Cohen, Covid and Masks

By Gary Pearce June 19, 2023

MAGA Republicans apparently like masks only when they’re worn by Proud Boys attacking the U.S. Capitol. North Carolina’s junior U.S. senator, “Popgun Ted” Budd, and 8th District Congressman, “Bathroom Dan” Bishop, last week claimed that, when Dr. Mandy Cohen was the state’s Secretary of Health and Human Services, she “spread misinformation about … Covid vaccinations…

A Fair Trial

By Carter Wrenn June 19, 2023

Trump’s indicted…which means, now, only one thing matters: A fair trial. At the trial prosecutors are going to say Trump lied, obstructed justice; Trump’s lawyers are going to say Trump did absolutely nothing wrong. But the judge refereeing the trial was appointed by Trump and both sides get an equal say on who gets to…

Tillis’ Tap Dance

By Gary Pearce June 16, 2023

Do I have to start liking Thom Tillis now? The second-term U.S. Senator from North Carolina got censured by the state Republican convention for working with Democrats on guns, immigration and gay marriage. The resolution cited “blatant violations of our party platform.” The NC GOP doesn’t tolerate deviations from the party line. Then-Senator Richard Burr…

Forgiving An Enemy

By Carter Wrenn June 16, 2023

Six shots rang out. A Secret Service agent stepped in front of Reagan, was shot in the chest; shoving Reagan into the backseat of a limousine another agent landed on top of him pinning him to the floor; Reagan felt a stab of pain in his ribs, coughed up bubbly blood – he collapsed walking…

The Circus

By Carter Wrenn June 15, 2023

Trump got indicted; Kevin McCarthy ripped Biden for turning the Justice Department into a ‘weapon’ to sink the man running against him; Trump, sheepishly, said in an ad, “I’m an innocent man.” Biden fired back, denied he ever told the Justice Department what to do when it came to indicting Trump then, raising his eyebrows,…

Pence’s Question

By Carter Wrenn June 14, 2023

The words Mike Pence said were powerful but the way he said them was mild – he sounded like a man walking through a park, staring up at the sky, talking about a cloudy day. Pence told about Trump telling him to throw out Biden’s Electoral College votes on January 6: ‘President Trump demanded that…

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…