Molly Ivins died on January 31, 2007, in Austin, Texas, after a long battle with breast cancer, at age 62.
Molly Ivins died on January 31, 2007, at her home in Austin, Texas, following a years-long battle with breast cancer that had been diagnosed in 1999 and had recurred multiple times. She continued writing her nationally syndicated column even through chemotherapy treatments, famously joking about her illness with characteristic dark humor while urging readers to remain politically engaged—one of her final columns urged Americans to raise their voices against the Iraq War troop surge, writing, "We are the people who run this country. We are the deciders."
Her death drew tributes from journalists, politicians, and readers across the political spectrum, reflecting her unusual status as a fiercely progressive commentator who was nonetheless respected and even beloved by many conservative Texans for her authenticity, wit, and fairness in argument. Obituaries in The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Washington Post celebrated her as one of the great American political satirists and defenders of free speech.
Her legacy endures through the Ivins Award for young journalists, the continued relevance of her published essay collections, and her influence on generations of columnists who adopted her model of combining rigorous reporting with sharp, accessible humor. Her death marked the end of a singular voice in American letters—one that used laughter as a weapon against corruption, hypocrisy, and abuse of power.