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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Run Everywhere?

By Gary Pearce July 7, 2023

A reader wrote about North Carolina Democrats’ 2024 strategy: “I question the wisdom of trying to recruit Democratic candidates in all 170 legislative districts. Precincts and counties that voted overwhelmingly for Trump seem like lost causes to me.” Indeed, some places are 70 percent Republican. Why run there? Here’s why. Josh Stein won the 2020…

You Pay a Price Either Way

By Carter Wrenn July 7, 2023

One group cheers Trump. Another cheers Biden. And a lot of people dislike both. And that third group will decide who wins the election next fall. In 2016, they didn’t like Trump, disliked Hillary more, Trump won. In 2020 they didn’t like Biden, disliked Trump more, Biden won. This year, for the third straight presidential…

A Reckoning

By Carter Wrenn July 6, 2023

On election night three years ago standing at a podium in the White House Trump said the election was stolen. He went on to claim voting machines switched Trump votes to Biden. And that boxes of illegal ballots were rolled into voting centers late at night. Neither turned out to be true. And he was…

The Mirror

By Carter Wrenn July 5, 2023

In his ‘Farewell Address,’ leaving office, George Washington reminded Americans of a simple truth: “Honesty is the best policy.” And for years when a politician made the mistake of telling a lie he paid a price. During the Vietnam War Lyndon Johnson told people we were winning – the Tet Offensive proved he was spinning…

Fired Up!

By Gary Pearce July 5, 2023

Less than 24 hours after I blogged that Democrats in the legislature seemed “beat down,” I got corrected. One of the House Democratic leaders called Saturday morning to tell me that caucus members are fired up, energized and getting organized for 2024, 2026, 2028 – and for taking the majority by the end of the…

A Salesman’s Pitch

By Carter Wrenn July 3, 2023

After being indicted, Trump flew to New Hampshire, told voters: “They want to take away my freedom because I will never let them take away your freedom.” Added: “They’re not after me, they’re after you and I’m just standing in their way. Right?” I’m a victim. I fight for you. It’s you they’re really after.…

Democrats’ Split Personality

By Gary Pearce June 30, 2023

There are two wildly divergent states of mind – and emotional states – among North Carolina Democrats today. I saw one at last Saturday night’s Unity Dinner in Raleigh. I see and hear the other among Democrats in politics and government in Raleigh. At the dinner, 400-plus eager, energized and enthusiastic Democrats jammed the reception,…

Testy

By Carter Wrenn June 30, 2023

Oklahoma’s governor endorsed Ron DeSantis. Unhappy, Trump tweeted, ‘I won 77 of 77 counties’ – in Oklahoma – ‘something that never happened before.’ George Bush won 77 of 77 Oklahoma counties in 2004. Mitt Romney won 77 of 77 in 2012. But Trump got testy. And facts didn’t matter.

Classic Trump

By Carter Wrenn June 29, 2023

Trump said: “Unlike Ron DeSanctimonious, who worked to gut Medicare and Social Security and voted three times to raise the retirement age to 70, I will always fight for our great seniors.” An insult, a nickname, followed by a punch, ending in a boast. Classic Trump. By the way: Trump, himself, supported raising the retirement…

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…