The new film Nuremberg reflects a wishy-washy modern approach to the problem of evil, John Grondelski writes in his review. Structured around the point of view of the psychologist examining Hitler’s second-in-command Hermann Göring, “Nuremberg reflects the flaws of modern tastes, focusing more on what’s in somebody’s head rather than what they did.”

For further reading: The Nuremberg trials were the world’s attempt to undercover the reasons that led to such slaughter in hopes of avoiding them. But on the question of whether the Holocaust can happen again, Fr. Richard John Neuhaus gave a pessimistic answer: “At Nuremberg the prosecution argued that the killing programs unfolded quite predictably from one thing to another, that the killing of the six-millionth Jew was set in motion by the morphine overdose given the first harelipped child” (August 1994). Not a good diagnosis for any country where abortion is legal.

From the December issue: Clare Morell argues in her book The Tech Exit: A Practical Guide to Freeing Kids and Teens from Smartphones that parents can’t barter with screen time but need to completely cut their kids off. While this proscription sounds daunting, Peco and Ruth Gaskovski see it differently. They write in their review, “Our impression—­having lived as a low-tech family for twenty years—is that Morell’s approach is realistic and her hope ­well-founded.”

For further listening: Clare Morell joined the Editor’s Desk podcast to discuss her book back in July.

In the aftermath of a corruption scandal in the Ukrainian government, George Weigel praises the response of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations which “showed what true moral reasoning applied to public life looks like.” The statement called the corruption a sin, “and during wartime it is not merely a violation of state laws but also a moral crime against our defenders and our entire people.”

For further reading: How does religion inform the Ukraine-Russia war? Matthew Dal Santo explored this question in “Theopolitics of Ukraine” (August/September 2023).

First Things is launching our first topical newsletter. It’s called The Fourth Watch, and it’s about Catholicism. The questions facing the Catholic Church have-wide reaching implications and spawn no small amount of sensationalism and quick takes. James F. Keating, a theologian at Providence College, will analyze the storms that the Barque of Peter faces and offer, whenever possible, a passage through them.

Sign-ups are open now, the first installment will go out on Monday, December 1st. Subscribe with just one click. 

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Upcoming Events

• December 1, 2025: Launch of The Fourth Watch: A Newsletter about Catholicism | Sign up with one click.
• February 1, 2026: Second Annual Neuhaus Lecture at the New College of Florida | Sarasota, FL. Details coming soon.

Until next time,

VIRGINIA AABRAM

Newsletter Editor