This made the country sit up almost as straight as she did.

While most of the news media was riveted on the testimony of Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz to the Senate Intelligence Committee on Monday, one reporter with a close-up view of the action had her attention elsewhere.

And it had nothing to do with President Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton’s emails or special counsel Robert Mueller’s seemingly endless investigation of “Russia collusion.”

Washington Examiner criminal justice reporter Kelly Cohen was just getting the word that Barry Trotz, head coach of the Stanley Cup-winning Washington Capitals hockey team was stepping down.

And Cohen was not taking the news well at all.

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A Twitter posting from the Barstool News Network (fittingly enough) captured the moment for history:

https://twitter.com/BarstoolNewsN/status/1008793643937927169

Now, it’s not exactly a “where were you when the Twin Towers fell” kind of moment for the rest of the country. It’s doubtful most Americans could say off the top of their heads which team won the Stanley Cup this year (even if Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner know first-hand.)

But in the nation’s capital, the Caps’ first Stanley Cup since the team’s 1974 founding was also the city’s first championship since the Redskins won the Super Bowl in 1992, according to The Washington Times. That made the future of the winning team’s coach a very big deal to many people – and Cohen was clearly one of them.

Did you laugh when you found out why she was gasping? Yes No Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use You're logged in to Facebook. Click here to log out. 76% (116 Votes) 24% (36 Votes)

According to The Washington Post, the Trotz move doesn’t sound like that much of a surprise after a rough year with the team’s owners. Sounds like all sides couldn’t reach an agreement on the money and Trotz decided to go out a winner.

But all that is just detail.

Thanks to the speed of the internet, Cohen’s background reaction to the news threatened to rival coverage of Horowitz’s testimony itself.

https://twitter.com/GaryPalastro/status/1008794242188181509

Ive been watching the hearings wondering who is this woman?? She’s been very dramatic, reading her phone and then rapidly responding. Who is she??? — 🆘 Deb from IL 🏡🚗🌳🏠 (@MyRedBeetle) June 18, 2018

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Gonna break the internet — katymom (@debross123) June 18, 2018

On one level, of course, it’s disheartening to see a member of the Washington press corps taking such a scant interest in one of the biggest political stories in the country’s history. (And it’s doubtful Cohen’s bosses were real happy to see how much time she was spending not following the proceedings.)

But there’s something to be said for clearing your head once in a while by keeping in touch with sports that are outside the political realm (unlike, say, the NFL.)

Cohen’s timing might have been awful, but the example might not have been half bad.

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