New York Times political journalist Blake Hounshell has died, according to a newsroom-wide memo sent to the paper’s staff on Tuesday. “Blake was a dedicated journalist who quickly distinguished himself as our lead politics newsletter writer and a gifted observer of our country’s political scene,” executive editor Joe Kahn wrote. Hounshell died after “a long and courageous battle with depression,” his family wrote in a statement. Hounshell joined the Times in October 2021 and helmed its On Politics newsletter. Prior to that, he worked at Politico, where he served a number of roles including managing editor, digital editorial director, and editor-in-chief of Politico Magazine. Following the announcement of Hounshell’s death, his former and current colleagues took to social media to pay tribute to him as a reporter, editor, and friend.