New York Times journalist Blake Hounshell dies aged 44 after ‘courageous battle with depression’

A New York Times political journalist has died at the age of 44 “after a long and brave battle with depression,” his family said.

Blake Hounshell, who was a top editor at Foreign Policy and Politico magazine before joining The Times in 2021, died Tuesday in Washington, leaving behind his wife Sandy and two children.

A police officer said his death was being investigated as a suicide.

After joining The Times, “he quickly established himself as our leading political newsletter writer and a gifted observer of our country’s political scene,” said Joseph Kahn, the editor-in-chief, in a memo to staff.

“We have lost a valuable colleague and this is a heartbreaking loss for our team,” it said.

New York Times journalist Blake Hounshell has died at the age of 44 “after a long and brave battle with depression,” his family said

Hounshell was hired by The Times in 2021 to oversee their On Politics newsletter.

Hounshell was born in California in 1978 but grew up in Delaware and Pittsburgh and graduated from Yale in 2002.

His entry into journalism came after a stay in Cairo, where he studied Arabic. He was a finalist in the 2011 Livingston Awards for Young Journalists for his coverage of the Arab Spring.

Between 2009 and 2013 he was Editor-in-Chief of Foreign Policy, overseeing its adaptation to the internet age.

Hounshell then worked at Politico for eight years, holding various senior positions and as editor-in-chief of the magazine he founded.

He was then hired at The Times to pioneer a newsletter – an increasingly popular medium he had experience with at both Foreign Policy and Politico.

“The Times is making significant investments in newsletter talent,” The Times wrote when it announced it was hiring him.

It added: “Now, with a deluge of political news for our readers to understand every day, we turn to a newsletter and political reporting expert, Blake Hounshell.”

In his most recent On Politics newsletter, published Monday, Hounshell addressed the death penalty in California and the political pressure the issue was putting on its governor, Gavin Newsom. On Friday, he wrote about how the Republican Party is struggling to attract young voters.

Between 2009 and 2013 he was Editor-in-Chief of Foreign Policy, overseeing its adaptation to the internet age

John Harris, a founding editor of Politico, wrote on Twitter that Hounshell was praised for his curiosity and intuition

“It is with great sadness that we have to inform you that Blake passed away suddenly this morning after a long and brave battle with his depression. His wife Sandy and two children are in our thoughts and prayers and ask for respect and privacy at this time,” his family said in a statement.

His death sparked sadness and admiration from fellow journalists and politicians.

“The editorial team at @politico is concerned. Blake Hounshell had an amazing mind, full of original insights on a variety of subjects,” wrote John Harris, a founding editor of Politico, on Twitter.

“He was a deeply idealistic and inquisitive man with an intoxicating ability to discern both patterns and contradictions in the news.”

Hounshell (center) speaks onstage during the Concordia Annual Summit in September 2021

John Fetterman recalled an interview with Hounshell after suffering a stroke in May

Newly elected Democratic Sen. from Pennsylvania John Fetterman recalled an interview with Hounshell after he suffered a stroke in May.

“Blake Hounshell was another stroke survivor and one of the first interviews I did when I returned to campaign and was struggling to find my words,” Fetterman tweeted Tuesday.

Scott Jennings, a conservative commentator and political analyst, said he spoke to Hounshell last week about a story about the Kentucky governor’s race.

“Always thought he was a good reporter and good guy,” he wrote. “A reminder that you never really know what the people behind the scenes are dealing with.”

Times congressional correspondent Annie Karni tweeted that she wished Hounshell could “see all these tweets from his colleagues who feel indebted to him for where they are.”