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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Hope

By Gary Pearce 2023-04-04

Trump’s porn star/hush money/fraud indictment brings hope and fear. Hope that the law finally will catch up with him, that Republican primary voters finally will turn against him and that, even if he wins the nomination, he’ll lose the election so badly he’ll lead the GOP to its worst shellacking since the post-Watergate election of…

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New York Grand Jury

By Carter Wrenn 2023-04-04

Awake in the wee hours after midnight Trump posted on Truth Social he was wonderful, he was popular, he was winning, then threatened ‘death and destruction’ could follow the Manhattan District Attorney indicting him for a felony – in the next breath he called the D. A. ‘A degenerate psychopath that truly hates the USA!’.…

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Nick

By Gary Pearce 2023-04-02

The Galifianakis most North Carolinians know today is actor-comedian Zach. For politicos of a certain age, Galifianakis is Nick, Zach’s uncle and a former congressman from Durham who lost a Senate race to Jesse Helms in 1972. Nick died this week, at age 94. Rob Christensen, long-time political reporter for The News & Observer, wrote…

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Schools, Politics and AR-15s

By Gary Pearce 2023-04-01

A Raleigh mother said, “my 13-year-old just asked if she could lie in bed with me tonight for a while because she is scared about the school shootings and drills they have to practice.” A teacher told me she and her colleagues are ready to put themselves in front of their students if a shooter…

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Two Clans

By Carter Wrenn 2023-03-31

This is politics: Two clans – Showman and Washington Politicians. One struts, lies. The other connives. Hot headed followers kowtow to Trump. Washington Politicians cut deals. Meantime, there’s inflation, tottering banks, and China’s joined arms with Russia. If you ask people, in a poll, Is politics broken? almost everyone nods, Yes. A rare case of…

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A Snapshot of Politics

By Carter Wrenn 2023-03-30

Another messy week: Democrat prosecutors tormenting Trump and, in retaliation, Republicans in Congress dragging Hunter Biden out of the closet. Trump went on a tear on Truth Social, threatening ‘death and destruction’ if Manhattan’s District Attorney indicts him – but, oddly, it looks like Democrats by prosecuting Trump may be helping him. Ron DeSantis led…

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Feeding the Beast

By Gary Pearce 2023-03-30

Republicans made a deal with the devil 60 years ago, and the devil has come to collect. In 1964, Barry Goldwater turned the party of Lincoln into the party that opposed civil rights. In 1968, Richard Nixon followed Strom Thurmond’s Southern Strategy to the White House. In 1972, Nixon helped elect North Carolina’s Jesse Helms…

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The Real Mark Robinson

By Gary Pearce 2023-03-28

Lt. Governor Mark Robinson’s “response” to Governor Roy Cooper’s State of the State – it actually was pre-taped – was choreographed to make him seem reasonable and responsible. Then he spoke at Trinity Baptist Church in Mooresville one recent Sunday. He unleashed, again, on LGBTQ people – and on pastors who welcome them: “Makes me…

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Divine Intervention

By Carter Wrenn 2023-03-27

It’s like watching horned demons – or two clans – having a spat: Showmen fighting Politicians. The Master Showman, Trump, has a hot bed of followers. The Master Washington Politician, Biden, makes deals with Schumer, McConnell, McCarthy. Meantime, we’ve got inflation, tottering banks, China and Russia allied against us. Showmen strut, rant. Politicians connive. Neither…

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Trump’s Ordeal – Week 1

By Carter Wrenn 2024-04-22

Trump rolled through two civil trials, hardly blinking, defiant, but at the end of the first…

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For Our Schools: Mo Green

By Gary Pearce 2024-04-18

A teacher I know, who happens to be our daughter Maggie Pearce Dill, said it better…

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The Least Harm

By Carter Wrenn 2024-04-17

Siena College took a poll, Biden crept up, gaining 4 points: Trump 45%, Biden 44%. The…

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