Kevin Drum (1958–2025)

Blogger and journalist Kevin Drum died earlier this month at the age of 66 after a long battle with cancer. His most recent website, where his wife Marian announced the sad news, was self-named, but with a fun URL that included "jabberwocking." You can read tributes and obituaries from Digby, Josh Marshall, Paul Glastris at Washington Monthly where Kevin blogged, Mother Jones where he blogged, Matthew Yglesias, The New Republic staff (who include a catblogging tribute), David Dayen and The American Prospect staff (who also do a catblogging tribute), Mark Evanier, the Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times.

Kevin was one of the early bloggers and a welcome resource during the Bush years. He did some fine, in-depth pieces, as covered in the tributes above. He also started "Friday cat blogging," a nice tradition of more relaxed posting that inspired similar efforts from other political bloggers. Notably, at Mother Jones, he also asked that instead of him getting raises each year that those funds be used to support younger writers.

I didn't know Kevin that well, but I met him once when he hosted a book party for Rick Perlstein, who was promoting Nixonland at the time (a event also mentioned by Digby). Kevin and his wife Marian were gracious hosts, and that night they welcomed many Southern California liberal bloggers into their home, many of whom I met in person for the first time. It was nice talking to everyone, and I enjoyed seeing all the film posters and books on classic films, with several prominent ones related to the great Danish director Carl Dreyer. (Kevin's father had been a professor of speech and film history, and as some of the pieces above cover, Kevin's father started writing a book on Dreyer but died before he could finish it; Kevin's mother completed it.)

I'm sorry Kevin didn't have more time, and condolences to his family and close friends. His best work was very good indeed, and he'll be remembered for his thoroughness and kindness.