Shirin Rajaee

Shirin Rajaee is an evening news anchor and reporter at FOX 5 DC, where she’s been a trusted voice in the community since 2020. 

You can catch Shirin anchoring a variety of shows throughout the week, including serving as the main fill-in anchor for FOX 5’s highly recognized late-night political program "The Final 5" at 11:30 p.m. She is also a regular co-host of the station’s newly launched show, "The Take at 2," where she brings sharp insight and engaging conversation to trending local and national issues. And, of course, she’s a frequent panelist on FOX5’s 7 p.m. show "Like it or Not."

In her reporting, Shirin covers it all—from the biggest political stories in the nation’s capital, elections, and crime in DC, to human interest features that spotlight everyday people. She prides herself on "giving a voice to those who don’t have one," and her work has taken her from the frontlines of COVID-19 coverage to historic presidential inaugurations, ICE raids and major protests.

A Los Angeles native, Shirin is proud of her Iranian roots and the perspective it brings to her storytelling. Off-air, she is a mom to her spirited four-year-old daughter, Selma, and is married to fellow journalist Joe Khalil, a Capitol Hill correspondent based in D.C.

Beyond the newsroom, Shirin is a recognized face in the Washington, D.C. community. She frequently serves as an emcee and host for major events, including the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the American Heart Association, Pars Place, and more. Her commitment to connecting with the community she covers is a hallmark of her career and one of the reasons viewers trust her both on and off-screen.

Before joining FOX 5, Shirin was the main evening anchor at CBS 13 in Sacramento, where she covered state politics, California’s devastating wildfires, and national headline-making stories. She got her start on-air as an anchor/ reporter at KEYT ABC in Santa Barbara, California. Before that, her first media job was a behind-the-scenes gig at CNN Los Angeles. 

"I owe a lot to my CNN family for believing in my potential and helping kickstart my career," Shirin says.