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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Trump’s Iron Grip

By Carter Wrenn May 11, 2023

Liz Cheney stood up to Trump. Trump beat her in her primary. So she’s out of office – in exile. But can she throw Trump one last curveball? A block of the Republican voters shake their heads when they hear Trump rant, don’t want him back in the White House. But they won’t vote for…

A Mess

By Carter Wrenn May 11, 2023

In a hearing House Republicans pummeled Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas – Democrat Eric Swalwell ripped into Marjorie Taylor Greene – Greene shot back Swalwell ‘had sex with a Chinese spy,’ told Mayorkas, ‘You’re a liar.’ Democrat Bennie Thompson said Greene crossed the line, moved to strike her words from the record. Earlier in the…

“Republicans have made the greatest political mistake in our lifetimes”

By Gary Pearce May 11, 2023

That’s how political analyst Simon Rosenberg sees SB 20, the draconian abortion bill that was rammed though the state legislature by Republicans. Rosenberg spoke Tuesday night on a Zoom call with about 200 N.C. Democrats, organized by Carolina Forward. He cited a poll released this week by Carolina Forward and Change Research showing that voters…

A Democratic Republic

By Gary Pearce May 10, 2023

MAGA Republicans hate to use “Democratic” as an adjective. They won’t even say the United States is a “democracy.” Trump’s election-denier Cleta Mitchell calls the United States “a constitutional republic.” Other Republicans say, “We are a constitutional republic. We are not a democracy.” The Founding Fathers clearly said no: We are a democracy and a…

Biden’s Case in a Nutshell

By Carter Wrenn May 9, 2023

Standing in the Stock Exchange on Wall Street Kevin McCarthy laid out his plan to raise the  ‘debt ceiling.’ Wobbly, making a speech in a union hall, Joe Biden mocked McCarthy for wrapping arms around Wall Street, jabbed MAGA Republicans for telling him he had to agree with their “wacko notions” to avoid a debt…

Dem Blues

By Gary Pearce May 9, 2023

While the media obsesses over Anderson Clayton’s age, Democrats should focus on her message. The state Democratic party chair told The New York Times: “People with me all the time are like, ‘I wish you’d stop saying we’ve left Democrats behind.’ I’m like: ‘We have. We’ve left people behind’.” She’s right. Democrats have lost touch…

Newsmax and Fox

By Carter Wrenn May 8, 2023

Can Newsmax torpedo Fox? After pounding its chest for years, boasting it was for Trump, Fox got sued for spreading Trump’s claim voting machines switched votes – if Fox really supported Trump wouldn’t it stand up and fight to prove he was right? It didn’t. Instead, it paid Dominion Voting Systems $787 million, sidestepped a…

Supremely Corrupt

By Gary Pearce May 8, 2023

The nation’s high court has sunk to new lows of corruption. Clarence Thomas is bought and paid for by billionaire Harlan Crow: gifts, trips and private-school tuition. The New York Times exposed another scheme that benefits conservative Justices and wealthy special interests. It’s the Antonin Scalia (wouldn’t you know it) Law School at George Mason…

The Age Thing

By Gary Pearce May 7, 2023

The Washington media is all wrong on this Biden age “issue.” Did you catch him at the White House Correspondents Dinner? He’s still got game. Will the media put the age scope on 76-year-old Trump? Have you watched him haul his butt out of a golf cart? Or struggle to construct a coherent thought? Ageism…

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…