One aspect is the use of the media as a tool. Just as in real - life situations where the media can be manipulated, in 'Wag the Dog' the characters use the media to spread false information about a war. Also, the way public perception is easily swayed by what the media presents is shown, which is similar to real - world scenarios where the public often believes what they see and hear in the news without much critical thinking.
Once, I was walking a Wag dog in a wooded area. The dog ran off the path and got caught in some thorny bushes. It was panicking and trying to get free. I had to be really careful getting it out without getting scratched myself. It took a while and was a bit of a horror story as I was worried about the dog getting hurt.
The main theme might be related to the idea of distraction. Maybe the story shows how a minor event or character (the 'dog') can be manipulated in a way that has far - reaching consequences for the overall narrative, much like the idiom 'wag the dog' implies.
As I haven't read the 'wag the dog novel', I'm unable to name the main characters. It could be that there are characters who are in positions of power and those who are being used as pawns in the story, but without reading it, it's just speculation.