Episode 45: The 'From Here' Contingent (ft. Etel Haxhiaj)

Outdoor Cats Podcast

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Episode 45: The 'From Here' Contingent (ft. Etel Haxhiaj)

What does this mean for Worcester and where do we go from here?

Bill Shaner

Nov 11, 2025

After a surprise loss in the District 5 race, Etel Haxhiaj and I sat down for a candid chat. It was late in the afternoon Friday. Both of us were exhausted and the conversation is a winding one. But we hit on several of the nastier elements of local politics in this city—the nativism, the sexism, the routine harassment… not to mention the stranglehold of the police unions and chamber of commerce on the supposedly democratic processes of city government. We discuss “civility” and the other buzzwords used as a cudgel against the progressive movement.

We do some light analysis of the results, thinking about where Rivera’s 900 new votes came from. But more so, the interview was a public airing of observations about the sort of pervasive cultural problems that, over the past several years, Etel and I would often talk about privately. Ahead of recording, Etel told me she felt strongly that there wasn’t any use in keeping a lid on the stuff any longer. People should know what it’s like. Early in the conversation she said:

One of the hopes that I have for this conversation is to shed some light on how I’m experiencing it. And maybe that gives some language to, and some perspective to people who, you know, have been reaching out and saying, ‘we don’t understand what happened on Tuesday.’ And again, not just looking at me as a person, but mostly sort of the, what does this mean for Worcester and where do we go from here?

For what it’s worth there hasn’t been nor will there likely be another interview with Haxhiaj of this length and depth on the results of this election. One of many reasons I think it’s worth it to keep this little outfit in business. Subscribe here or drop a few bucks in the tip jar or even visit the merch store!