With a heavy heart, I have to tell you that after a long battle with cancer my husband Kevin Drum passed away on Friday, March 7, 2025.
No public memorial services are planned.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity or political cause of your choice.
A Facebook page, 'In Memory of Kevin Drum', has been created as a place for friends and family to share memories of Kevin. I encourage you to post your thoughts and memories there.
Thank you to all the wonderful blog readers who supported, encouraged and challenged him through the years.
He will be greatly missed.
Marian
Thank you Kevin, aka Calpundit, for making our lives of quiet desperation a bit less desperate. You will be missed.
I'm so sorry, Marian. He was a wonderful person.
Marian, so very sorry to hear that Kevin passed away. I had been hoping each day that he would pull through.
I've been reading Kevin almost daily for around 15 years. I came to rely on him more than anyone else for cutting through the fog of data to figure out the truth about claims in today's political world. He was wise and an inspiration, and a personal hero of mine. I am quite upset today after learning of Kevin's passing. RIP Kevin, and you will be truly missed.
Such a wonderful mind that has been lost to all of us.
I am so sorry to hear this news. Kevin was simply the best at what he did, and I'm thankful that he shared as much of himself with us as he did. God bless you both.
Kevin is perhaps the longest and most continuous of any columnist or psuedo acquaintance I've ever had, and I grew to depend on his bright pictures and solid takes on data as something to talk about every day. From CalPundit to Washington Monthly to Mother Jones to here.
I loved that he was there, and he will be missed.
❤️❤️❤️
Yes I followed him not the publications he worked for.
So sorry to hear this. As the days passed from Kevin's March 4th post, I started to feel the dread that this had happened, but hoped for better news.
My condolences to Kevin's family. He was a voice of reason in this sea of continuing insanity. He will be missed.
So sorry to hear this, Marian. I will miss Kevin. The world is a little quieter and less wise today.
I’m sorry Marian. I appreciate Kevin’s voice all these years. I wish more people were like him. I have tremendous respect for him, and I grieve his passing with you.
I followed Kevin for over 20 years starting in the Calpundit days and am truly saddened to read this. My condolences to you and the rest of his family.
Oh, no!! A huge loss to the world of reasoned discourse and analysis -- and a tremendous human tragedy, too. My deep sympathy to you, Marian
My sympathies for your loss, Marian. Thanks for sharing Kevin with us.
Kevin was a good guy and the world needs more Kevins.
Peace.
Damn. So sorry for your loss. Only knew him through his writing, which was always insightful, thoughtful and kind. I'll miss him.
I'm so sorry. Thanks for sharing the news here. I have been following Kevin's commentary for many years now, attracted by his cool-headed, well reasoned and data driven approach. I will miss it, sorely.
Josh Marshall comments,
https://bsky.app/profile/joshtpm.bsky.social/post/3lk26bjjlx227
After a very heartfelt goodbye yesterday, seeing this news today confirming our worst fears is bringing sorrow, and yes, anger.
This will be a hard one to let go of.
Marian my thoughts and prayers are with you and your feline children. Like Golick said much earlier Kevin can once again give Hopper belly rubs, although, knowing cats, Hopper is probably playing hard to get just to let Kevin know who's still Boss and Kevin is probably eating it up.
To my fellow Jabberwockers. Where to now? This is a vibrant and very likable community and I would hate to see us all go our separate ways.
Explicit instructions for us "old guys" would be appreciated if we agree upon another site to join. I grew up with black and white TV, bicycles, playing outside etc - so simple for this old guy is better.
I feel so empty................................
Wish I knew where to go now. Daily smart and thoughtful posters seem to be quite rare these days. I don't actually have a name or site that is anything like Kevin's blog on my list. If someone has ideas let us know.
Kevin's old school blogroll took me to Digby's Hullaballoo. Her site & Kevin's are my all-time favorites.
I so wish that we, his loyal readers, could crowdsource posts to continue his legacy and the discussions. I've learned so much and really relied on this group. How to do that? How to set it up?
I've followed Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo for about as long as I have Kevin, since his Washington Monthly days. He's also thoughtful and like minded. I suggest you check him out at http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com
I follow Josh Marshall too. He's good, but not like Kevin, I'm spoiled with the frequent posts, the analysis and graphs, and the fabulous astrophotography, not to mention the cats. I don't think there actually is anyone out there like Kevin, and he gave it away for free. A true gem of a guy. I will miss his so much.
Used to read Josh but isn’t his site a pay site? Stopped reading at that point. Ironically I would have gladly paid for Kevin’s two cents.
RIP to truly great man that touched so many lives, simply awesome.
There is hole in my heart and huge hole in the internets brain.
I truly will miss his photography.
I feel like I have lost a good friend. One who was funny while being laser-focused on what is ethical and sane.
Best wishes for you and your family in your time of honoring him.
My condolences. This leaves such a big hole in so many lives.
❤️
Years of original articles.
I will miss him
I'm so sorry for your loss. I only met Kevin in person once, at a blogger New Year's Eve party in DC maybe 20 years ago, but have been reading and interacting with him online for the past 22 years. He was one of the good ones.
Intelligence, humanity, and a straightforward no-bullshit perspective on life ... Kevin's passing is a loss for all of us. Rest in Peace.
So sad for your loss and our loss. I have been reading Kevln's blog since Jan 2003 and will badly miss his graphs and clear calm analysis.
Clearsighted and even-keeled. What we always need and particularly now. Such a loss. I have read the blogs for 23 years. I will miss you, Kevin
I've been reading Kevin's work and electronically patting your cats since the Political Animal days. There are few people in this world whose analysis and commentary I trust like I did his, and I'll always appreciate the time and effort he spent crafting it.
I will especially Miss Kevin's annual breakdown of the California ballot propositions. this was my go-to source for understanding what the initiatives were about, they are often hard to understand and sometimes intentionally misleading. Kevin did the research so I didn't have to.
Oh, thank you for this. I relied on his ballot analysis also.
A real loss to society and of course to his family. I feel I have lost a friend who I never met.
May his memory be a blessing.
Oh no, this is the post I’ve been dreading for the last month. I’m so sorry, Marian.
As a reader since the Calpundit days I don’t really have anything to add beyond what so many others have expressed. I never dreamed the passing of someone I’d never met could hit so hard. I’ll think of him every time I post something about my cat.
James,
(seems like a time for a real name, rather than just a screen name)
Minneapolis
Heavy is my heart. Kevin will be greatly missed. He was the only blogger I continued to read year after year. Rest in Peace and Marion so sorry you lost a treasure of a man. My heart feels for you.
And yes James, you are correct,
John
The world is suddenly a lesser place.
Dear Marian,
Although it's obviously clear from the replies how many lives Kevin touched, I want to add myself to the long list. Thank you so much for being so supportive of him that he was able to share his thoughts up to the very end. My deepest condolences go out to you, the cats, your family, and your friends. Although it in no way compares to what you're feeling, please know that I and all the devoted readers here share in your loss. I will miss Kevin as I would a close friend!
In deep sadness,
Mark (aka MindGame)
❤️❤️
Kevin leaves a big hole. Every evening for more than a decade I've checked his posts, facts, figures, sources and meticulous graphs. But what made it so special were his words of wisdom putting everything into perspective, reminding us that there are more important things than the latest hot topic. Basic human values. truth and cats. And to always correct for inflation.