# The Panel: Distraction Politics, The Pile On Pauline and... Was The Dog A Ploy?

An episode of [The Karl Stefanovic Show](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1872352760), 24 Jul 2026, 44 min.

Audio: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/APO6001812815.mp3

This week on The Panel, Karl Stefanovic is joined by Isaac Butterfield and Calista to cut through the week's biggest political stories—and ask whether Australians are being distracted from the issues that really matter. From the Barnaby Joyce controversy and calls to change the Australian flag, to illegal immigration, self-defence laws, climate spending, manufacturing, energy policy and the cost-of-living crisis, the panel debates where Australia's priorities should really lie. Are politicians focusing on the right issues—or are Australians being distracted while the country's biggest challenges continue to grow? This episode covers: • Barnaby Joyce's viral interview • The push to change the Australian flag • Bob Katter on kids, country life and screen time • Should women be allowed to carry pepper spray? • Illegal immigration and border security • Chris Bowen's Fiji climate conference • Manufacturing, mining and Australia's energy future • The media, government funding and political priorities What do you think? Are we debating the right issues? Let us know in the comments. Subscribe for new episodes of The Panel every Friday.

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