To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes Revisiting the Nuremberg Trials
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Jan 20, 2026 Joe Klein, veteran journalist and author known for his insightful political analysis, dives into the significance of the Nuremberg trials and their film portrayals. He contrasts the moral clarity of the 1961 film with the relativism of the upcoming 2025 version. The duo reflects on the erosion of moral authority in America and the potential for military and principled leaders to provide ethical guidance. They also discuss the challenges of creating a third political party and the importance of civic duty in rebuilding national cohesion.
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Classic Film Emphasizes Moral Authority
- Joe Klein and Charlie Sykes find the 1961 Judgment at Nuremberg far more morally powerful than the new Nuremberg film.
- They argue the older film centers moral authority and individual conscience against relativism.
Formative Movie Memory Shaped Beliefs
- Joe Klein recounts watching Judgment at Nuremberg as a teenager and being shaped by its moral clarity.
- He links that formative experience to his belief in America's exceptionalism and civic duty.
Moral Authority Has Waned
- Charlie Sykes argues moral authority has eroded and we lack figures who can mobilize shame or decency against abuses.
- He says without institutional moral authority, calls like "Have you no shame?" lose force.