The Radio Free Hillsdale Hour: A Reporter’s Story of Overcoming Sexual Trauma and Exposing Injustice

The Radio Free Hillsdale Hour features a powerful conversation with Anna Giratelli, a Homeland Security reporter for The Washington Examiner and author of the memoir 'Under Assault: A Crime Reporter's True Story of Overcoming Sexual Trauma and Exposing Injustice.' Giratelli recounts her traumatic assault in Washington, D.C. on April 4, 2020, during the early days of the pandemic, and the systemic failures she encountered when seeking justice—particularly the D.C. police’s deliberate omission of her case from official crime statistics. She reflects on years of silence, emotional devastation, and the profound impact of being dismissed by institutions despite being a victim of a serious crime. Her turning point came after President Trump publicly addressed crime in D.C., which gave her the courage to break her silence and publish her story. The episode underscores the broader societal failure to protect victims and the urgent need for systemic reform in how sexual violence is reported and prosecuted. Giratelli’s journey from victim to survivor is framed as both personal healing and a call to action for women to understand, protect themselves, and reclaim agency in a world where trauma can be weaponized by silence. The episode also highlights Hillsdale College’s theatrical debut with 'Revolutionary America,' a documentary narrated by Tom Selleck and directed by Ian Reid, set to premiere in select theaters May 31–June 2. The film, produced in collaboration with Distant Moon, aims to bring the story of America’s founding to life through immersive storytelling, dynamic 3D maps, and a campfire-style narrative. Host Scott Bertram also shares excerpts from a fiery speech by CNN political analyst Scott Jennings at a Hillsdale National Leadership Seminar, in which he frames the current political moment as a battle for the soul of Western civilization. Jennings condemns the radical left for undermining American values, attacking religious freedom, and prioritizing ideology over human dignity, urging a coalition of common sense and moral courage to defend liberty and truth.