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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Abortion 2024

By Gary Pearce May 5, 2023

MAGA Mark Robinson said he’s “tired” of talking about abortion. Maybe he’d rather make fun of school-shooting survivors (see link below). North Carolina Republicans hope the abortion issue will go away by next year’s elections. Democrats won’t let it go. Governor Cooper’s veto will put heat on Republican legislators who promised not to do this.…

Hunter Biden

By Carter Wrenn May 5, 2023

Tammany Hall’s roots go all the way back to Aaron Burr. Once, years after Burr, a Tammany Hall boss boasted, ‘Honest graft made me rich.’ It’s a story as old as our Republic: A politician lands in Congress, learns dishonest graft lands him in jail but honest graft – ‘influence peddling’ – is no crime.…

An Ironic Twist

By Carter Wrenn May 4, 2023

Last week there were two new polls, one by the Wall Street Journal, the other by NBC News. Trump’s thrashing DeSantis in the primary in both; Biden’s beating Trump in the general election in both; And DeSantis is beating Biden in the general election in both. It’s an odd twist: Republicans want Trump. Biden wants…

Sowing the Wind

By Gary Pearce May 4, 2023

Politicians with too much power always go too far. In less than 24 hours, North Carolina House Republicans rammed through a far-reaching abortion ban. It’s 46 pages long, and we barely grasp its consequences. It’s a radical, right-wing assault on women. It criminalizes health-care professionals. It outlaws safe, sound and responsible medical care. Thank Tricia…

Cleta Mitchell is Worried

By Gary Pearce May 2, 2023

Two people from my political past are battling over college students voting. Cleta Mitchell wants to make it harder for them to vote. Daniel Gilligan wants to make it easier. Daniel was a student in a politics class I taught at NC State 20 years ago as an adjunct lecturer. (I think “adjunct” is Latin…

No Small Thing

By Carter Wrenn May 2, 2023

My doctor used to be in a family practice owned by doctors. Then, I’m not sure how, the practice became part of UNC Health Care. It was like they told my doctor, You have to see a patient every twenty minutes. Now, wham, bam, thank you ma’am – you’re in and out. I told a…

Fox Poll on Guns

By Gary Pearce May 1, 2023

If you don’t watch Fox News, you may have missed its poll on guns: “Voters favor gun limits over arming citizens to reduce gun violence.” The April 21-24 nationwide survey found: This time, Fox News isn’t fake news. Yet, Congress and the North Carolina legislature will do nothing. Thank the NRA.

Knock, knock. Bang, bang

By Gary Pearce April 30, 2023

Across the county, innocent people – including children and teenagers – are getting shot for ringing the wrong doorbell or turning into the wrong driveway. A reader asks: “Who in the world would want to do Meals on Wheels, sell Girl Scout cookies or knock on doors to campaign?” Don’t ask me to do any…

Family Feud

By Gary Pearce April 29, 2023

Our dysfunctional American family is picking a leader again, and we’re all tore up. My side of the family thinks Grandpa Joe has done a grand job. He fixed up the house nicely. He handles the dangerous neighbors on the next block with a firm, steady hand. We worry he’s a bit shaky at 80,…

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…