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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A Warning

By Carter Wrenn April 12, 2023

Finishing a long journey from Forrest Gump to George Washington, in his last book – The Patriots – Winston Groom told a story about Washington: His last year as president staring at two parties ripping into each other in the 1796 election, each out to elect its own candidate president, Washington warned politicians were sowing…

Blue Wolves, Red Wolves

By Carter Wrenn April 11, 2023

Voice frail staring into TV cameras Democrat state legislator Tricia Cotham painted a grim picture of her fellow Democrats the day she switched parties: When she didn’t toe the party-line, she said, blue wolves attacked bullying her, branding her a traitor; when she posted memes of an American flag, a pair of folded praying hands,…

No Quit

By Gary Pearce April 10, 2023

State Democratic Chair Anderson Clayton clearly felt she needed to buck up morale. She tweeted on Friday, “I understand folks feeling defeated by the news cycle this week. But hold on. Just hold on. As my fellow Democracy Defenders, the #TenneseeThree have said — this is going to ignite and awaken the people. And our…

“Sunday always comes”

By Gary Pearce April 8, 2023

History echoed in the halls of the Tennessee legislature last week when the House expelled two young Black representatives. The two, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, had used a bullhorn to disrupt the House and protest its inaction after the Nashville school shootings. They echoed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was murdered in Memphis 55 years…

On Wisconsin!

By Gary Pearce April 7, 2023

“Fight, fight, fight, we’ll win this game.” – From “On Wisconsin,” school fight song. While North Carolina Democrats seethed over a party-switcher, Wisconsin Democrats celebrated a landmark election victory. They elected a progressive, Janet Protasiewicz, to the Supreme Court by a ten-point margin. She will dramatically shift the court’s rulings on abortion, gerrymandering and 2024…

He’s No Reagan

By Gary Pearce April 6, 2023

Watching Trump’s rambling, raging Mar-a-Lago speech Tuesday night, I was reminded at first of another Republican President whose hair had an unnatural tint. But Trump is no Ronald Reagan. I didn’t care much for Reagan, but I liked one thing: He had a sunny, optimistic vision of America. In his farewell address, he called it…

Lost History

By Carter Wrenn April 6, 2023

Boarding ships the British army fled Boston. The siege ended. Leading soldiers strung out in long lines on dirt roads across Connecticut, George Washington raced south expecting the British to attack New York. The British landed in Staten Island – Washington blundered, thought they’d attack Manhattan. They attacked Long Island. Rushing soldiers across the East…

Does Truth Matter Anymore?

By Carter Wrenn April 5, 2023

Politicians howl to get likes on Facebook, applause on Twitter. The press howls too. Tucker Carlson said on TV ‘The January 6th riot was incited by federal agents – undercover agents.’ That wasn’t true. But his audience cheered. And the next night he was back on the air grinning. On Fresh Air on NPR a…

Party Pooper

By Gary Pearce April 5, 2023

NC Rep. Tricia Cotham managed to make big news the same day Donald Trump was hauled into a criminal courtroom. She joined a list of prominent, if not distinguished, North Carolina Democrats who switched parties – or loyalties. They all say it’s about principle, but it’s always more about pique, personal ambition and a power…

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…