We’re living in the age of attention-grabbing antics and stunts, but how much more attention can a man with one of the most prominent positions in Australian media need?
Clearly, Karl Stefanovic is far from done in using his mainstream media name and salary to build an “independent media” audience, with his latest podcast interview seeing him praise UK far-right activist Tommy Robinson for his “tenacity” and “courage”.
The podcast released on Tuesday had disappeared from the feed as of publishing on Wednesday morning, with no explanation provided.
But the attention has already been achieved. Perhaps, it was more than Stefanovic bargained for, with criticism of his decision to platform an extremist and seek his advice on how the “right can take power in Australia” coming quickly from all corners.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, claims he was causing a “fucking earthquake” in the UK. He’s been convicted of violence, financial and immigration fraud and stalking a female journalist, among other things. He has been calling for supporters to take to the streets and, just days ago, travelled to Russia to meet with Elon Musk’s father, Errol, who recently gave an interview to 7 News in which he claimed, “it would be foolish not to admire Putin.”
Somehow, this guy was Stefanovic’s expert of choice, after the Nine host announced last week he was travelling to London to find out what’s going on in the UK, which he believes is a prelude to what’s coming for Australia.
Stefanovic reportedly earns more than $2 million a year from Nine as co-host of the Today breakfast show and a regular on 60 Minutes. While Nine hasn’t commented on Stefanovic’s latest interview, the network could not be happy with the move.
But Stefanovic is also believed to be tempting Nine to fire him, enabling him to get out of his contract early with a little extra in the back pocket. The podcast is the vehicle for what comes next. Hence, his unashamed attempts to grab as much audience as possible, including by launching his show with Pauline Hanson as interview #1 (who has since returned for another), and further interviews with Bob and Robbie Katter, Tony Abbott, Big Chocky, Pete Evans, and Kyle Sandilands, among others.
Stefanovic shared footage of himself walking down a London street with his arm around Robinson to promote the episode this week (which is still up on his X account). In the short video, Stefanovic calls Keir Starmer a “wanker”, prompting rapturous laughter from Robinson.
During the full podcast, Stefanovic graced Robinson with multiple moments, unchallenged, to share his racist tropes about Muslims “terrorising” Britain and his claims they’re now doing the same thing in Australia.
Robinson said he’s pleased to see the rise of Pauline Hanson and One Nation, and praised her ability to get to where she is “for a woman”.
“I’m a man. It’s not easy. So for a woman, the amount of slander, the amount of horrible, disgusting things she’s had said about her. She just carried on fighting. And truth comes out in the end.”
Yes, Robinson loves to support a woman — when convenient. But then he has been convicted of stalking a female journalist, faced separate harassment charges over two more, and carries a long history (documented by 43 women’s organisations who signed an open letter calling him a misogynist) of weaponising sexual-abuse survivors to support his racist ends.
During the interview, Stefanovic sought advice from Robinson on how the right in Australia can seize power. “If we change culture, politics will follow,” Robinson responded.
This is the same Karl Stefanovic who wore the same suit for a year, five days of television for a week, to make a point about the double standards that women face at work. The same man who once praised multiculturalism in Australia and declared that immigration is what makes this country great. Stefanovic shared the story of his grandparents, who spent a year in an immigration camp before going on to build a home in Australia, noting in one passionate monologue that, “this country is built on so many pillars, including those who come from faraway land” – and “they have made this a better place”.
But that was then; this is 2026. And wherever there’s an opportunity to tap into grievance, there’s a way for Karl Stefanovic, regardless of how far he has to evolve from his previously publicly stated views.
And the reality is Stefanovic has to move fast on tapping the opportunity to turn his podcast into a business behemoth – with far fewer staff than a show like The Today Show will need, far lower production costs, and fewer rules and standards. No wonder he’s keen to build the audience by courting the most controversial guests he can. All while using the goodwill and privilege he holds as someone who is still sitting in one of the plushest seats in Australian media, despite his claims of being “anti-establishment”.
“I’m not right-wing.. I’m just right! Get that one up, you,” Stefanovic just last week told News.com.au.
Now, with no trace of the podcast on Stefanovic’s YouTube channel, nor on common platforms including Spotify and Apple podcasts, even Stefanovic might be thinking he got it wrong on this one.