While many would rightly focus on his career as a blogger and journalist, what stands out most to me is the impact he had as a pragmatic progressive who never lost sight of reality.
Kevin was one of the pioneers of the modern political blogosphere and someone I have been reading for over 20 years. He began his blogging career in the early 2000s with Calpundit, a site that quickly became a must-read for anyone looking for sharp, data-driven political analysis. His ability to distill complex issues into clear, evidence-based arguments set him apart from many of his contemporaries. He wasn’t just reacting to the news; he was digging into it, challenging conventional wisdom, and uncovering stories that others missed.
When he moved to Washington Monthly in 2004 and then to Mother Jones in 2008, he brought that same rigor to a wider audience. Whether he was writing about economic inequality, healthcare policy, or his groundbreaking work on the link between lead exposure and crime rates, Kevin’s journalism had a profound influence on public discourse. He didn’t just opine; he informed.
But Kevin’s contributions to blogging weren’t just about politics. He became one of the internet’s great purveyors of Catblogging, a tradition he created by posting pictures of his cats on Fridays. It was a small, charming gesture, but it reflected something fundamental about his writing: he never lost sight of the human (or feline) element in his work. His readers came for the insights but stayed for the warmth and personality.
In a political landscape often dominated by ideological purity and tribalism, Kevin stood apart. He was a progressive, yes, but he was also deeply committed to facts, reason, and real-world solutions. He had a way of cutting through the noise and making sense of complex issues, whether it was economic policy, crime statistics, or the long-term impacts of lead exposure. His writing wasn’t about scoring points; it was about understanding the world as it is and figuring out how to make it better.
That’s what made him such an invaluable voice to me. At a time when too many arguments boil down to us-versus-them rhetoric, Kevin was willing to follow the data wherever it led, even when it meant challenging his own side. He didn’t deal in convenient narratives; he dealt in evidence and logic. That approach didn’t always make him popular, but it did make him essential.
Reading Kevin over the years shaped the way I think about politics, policy, and even how to engage with people who see the world differently. He reminded me that being progressive isn’t just about ideals; it’s about effectiveness. It’s about asking, “What actually works?” rather than just “What sounds good?”
I don’t think that he was ever a member of this board, but he would have fit right in as his work has been cited here hundreds of times over the years. Despite battling cancer for the last several years, he continued to post thoughtful and insightful commentary right up until days before his passing. He will be missed.