Campaign Financing Reimagined: From a Fat Cat Model to the Many Kittens Model

In this episode of In the Weeds, Dr Catherine Williams sits down with Associate Professor Zim Nwokora from Deakin University—a political scientist and member of the Centre for Public Integrity’s Money in Politics Expert Committee.In today’s conversation, Zim unpacks innovative approaches to campaign financing—from regulating private donations to exploring mixed public-private models. He advocates for a “kittens model” where many small contributions replace the influence of “fat cat” funding, offering a fresh perspective on creating a more equitable and transparent democratic process. Tune in for an enlightening discussion that challenges conventional financing models and paves the way for reform in election funding.