Shepherds for Sale: Megan Basham on How Leftists Are Hijacking the Church from the Inside

In this compelling and urgent conversation, Bryan Dawson of 1819 News sits down with Daily Wire culture reporter and bestselling author Megan Basham to discuss her explosive book, Shepherds for Sale: How Evangelical Leaders Traded the Truth for a Leftist Agenda. With sharp insight and meticulous research, Basham exposes how secular progressive forces have infiltrated seminaries, evangelical institutions, and churches across America—not merely to influence theology, but to reshape the political and cultural convictions of millions of Christians.

Basham lays out a troubling pattern: left-wing organizations, including those funded by George Soros and the Hewlett Foundation, are funneling money through “evangelical” front groups like the Evangelical Immigration Table—entities that appear grassroots but are in fact top-down influence campaigns. Their goal? To convince believers that leftist policies on immigration, climate, race, and even vaccine mandates are not just political stances, but biblical imperatives.

Dawson and Basham also explore the downfall of prominent evangelical leaders like Russell Moore, once a conservative icon, now seen as a mouthpiece for progressive causes. From promoting amnesty under the guise of “loving your neighbor” to urging COVID-19 vaccinations as a Christian duty, Moore’s trajectory serves as a case study in how influence, prestige, and foundation money have corrupted evangelical leadership.

Basham explains how even well-meaning pastors are unwittingly swept into these networks, signing onto statements and participating in campaigns that subtly (or overtly) push progressive policy—often without full awareness of who’s funding or driving the agenda.

The discussion is a wake-up call to American Christians. The church, as Basham and Dawson argue, is the final obstacle to full-scale cultural conquest by the radical left. If believers don’t recognize the war being waged within their own walls, they may lose not just theological clarity, but national influence and moral credibility. This episode calls for spiritual vigilance, cultural awareness, and a bold return to biblical truth in an age of compromise.