National Press Club

Defense reporter Rachel S. Cohen wins 2026 NPC 'Press vs. Politicians' Spelling Bee

Patrick Host

June 12, 2026

Rachel S. Cohen, Federal News Network defense reporter, won the 2026 National Press Club "Press vs. Politicians" Spelling Bee on Wednesday night, June 10, leading the Press to a 27-21 victory over the Politicians.

Cohen finished 9-1 on the night and secured her victory by correctly spelling "amblyopia," which is a type of poor vision that usually happens when there is a breakdown in how the brain and eye work together and the brain, over time, relies more and more on the stronger eye.

woman holding up a trophy

Cohen said afterward she loves both the Club's spelling bee and the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

“It's fun to be curious about language, to put things together and figure out how the language works and how to make it beautiful when we write and speak,” she said following her victory.

Cohen said she felt relieved when she correctly spelled amicron, one of the smallest particles detectable with the ultramicroscope, in Round 8. Angela Greiling Keane, CNBC senior politics editor, and Alex Clearfield, Bloomberg Industry Group deputy team lead for litigation, finished tied for second on the Press team at 7-2.

Both reached the second-to-last round.

Rep. Sean Casten from Illinois' sixth congressional district was the top finisher for the Politicians at 7-2. He reached the second-to-last round.

Photos

Photo Credit: Alan Kotok The coveted 2026 Press vs Politicians Spelling Bee trophy.
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok National Press Club president and CQ Roll Call financial reporter Mark Schoeff Jr. welcomes audience members.
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok National Press Club Journalism Institute executive director Beth Francesco announces the event sponsors.
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok Press team, R-L: Katie Vogel, editor at Associated Press; Rachel Cohen, reporter at Federal News Network; Alex Clearfield, Bloomberg Industry Group; Angela Greiling Keane, politics editor at CNBC; and Kelly Chase, producer at BBC.
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok Politicians team, R-L: Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI), Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA), Rep. Sean Kasten (D-IL), Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), and congressional staff member Shannon Kennedy, filling in for Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA).
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok Dr. Brian Sietsema, lexicographer and the event's pronouncer, begins giving words for contestants to spell.
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) reacts when told she correctly spelled her given word.
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI) reacts when told she correctly spelled her given word.
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok BBC producer Kelly Chase thinks about the spelling of the word she's given.
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok Sean Kasten (D-IL) reacts when told the word he spelled is incorrect.
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok Katie Vogel, D.C. politics editor at Associated Press, reacts when told she correctly spelled her given word.
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok Rachel Cohen, defense reporter at Federal News Network, spells out the word she's given.
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok Alex Clearfield, team lead at Bloomberg Industry, reacts when told the word he spelled is incorrect.
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok Rachel Cohen, defense reporter at Federal News Network, receives the first prize trophy from NPC president Mark Schoeff Jr.
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok Rachel Cohen, defense reporter at Federal News Network, holds the first prize trophy in the 2026 spelling bee.

Video

Watch on YouTube