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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Losing Streak

By Gary Pearce 2023-10-10

If North Carolina Democrats want to become a governing party by 2030, we need to face up to harsh history. In 2016, Democrats had hope. We won back the governor’s office, held onto the attorney general’s office and won a majority on the Supreme Court. But it’s been downhill in the three elections since –…

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Office Politics

By Gary Pearce 2023-10-06

Why are House Speakers from North Carolina obsessed with office size? N.C. Congressman Patrick McHenry, the Interim U.S. House Speaker with the big gavel and little bowtie, kicked former Speaker Nancy Pelosi out of her Capitol office. He was mad because Pelosi and the Democrats didn’t rescue House Republicans from their circular firing squad. In…

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Hedging

By Carter Wrenn 2023-10-05

“I think they’re all going to like me – I think both sides are going to like me.” Trump took a breath, said he’d make a deal with liberals and conservatives on abortion both like. Meet the Press’ Kristen Welker, facing Trump, asked whether he’d abolish abortion after 6 weeks, like DeSantis did in Florida.…

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Trump’s Trap

By Gary Pearce 2023-10-05

If Republicans nominate Donald Trump next year, they’ll make the fatal mistake of making the election about Trump, not the American people. Their best chance to win is to attack Biden on the economy. But if Trump’s the candidate, he’ll make it all about him: his trials, grievances and threats of retribution. A majority of…

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The Disconnect

By Carter Wrenn 2023-10-04

Strolling onto stage, speaking to a Christian group, Trump stopped, grinned, blonde hair awhirl enjoying the applause, stepped to the podium, told a story, purred to the audience, “I love you. And I hope you love me.” Two miles away DeSantis, speaking to another Christian group, strode to the microphone, voice clipped said: “When you…

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Who’s That?

By Gary Pearce 2023-10-03

A recent Meredith College poll shows why you shouldn’t pay attention to early polls. Asked to identify photos of North Carolina’s top elected officials, most voters had no clue. 80% did identify Roy Cooper, who’s been governor for seven years and attorney general for 16 years. Still, 20% didn’t know him. And these were voters,…

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Trump on Abortion

By Carter Wrenn 2023-10-03

Years ago the Supreme Court made abortion legal – after that there were no limits on abortion the first trimester (12 weeks) of pregnancy, some limits on abortion in the second trimester, and, in the third trimester states could prohibit abortions. Back then conservatives, believing a fetus was a living being, called themselves ‘pro-life,’ said…

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A Pig in a Poke

By Carter Wrenn 2023-10-02

Face aglow, without a doubt in his voice, Trump said he’d end the Ukraine War in 24 hours. Vladimir Putin praised Trump. Trump boasted on Meet the Press, “I like that he said that. Because that means what I’m saying is right. I would get him into a room. Then I’d bring them together. And…

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10 O’clock on Election Night

By Carter Wrenn 2023-09-29

On Meet the Press Trump told Kristen Welker there were lawyers in his administration, and lawyers in his campaign, who told him the ‘election wasn’t stolen’ – but then Trump added, he knew personally, the election was stolen at ‘10 o’clock on election night.’ Now stop and think about that for a moment: At 10…

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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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Post-Christian America

By Carter Wrenn 2024-04-16

‘8 in 10 Americans Say Religion Is Losing Influence in Public Life,’ the headline roared. The…

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