The Tudor Dixon Podcast: A Father’s Plea – Inside the Fight to Bring Israeli Hostages Home

Podcast: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show (special episode: The Tudor Dixon Podcast)
Host: Tudor Dixon
Guest: Ruby Hen, father of American-Israeli hostage Itai Hen
Date: November 5, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the ongoing pain and advocacy of families whose loved ones remain hostage or missing following the October 7 Hamas attack in Israel. Tudor Dixon interviews Ruby Hen, whose son Itai, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen and IDF soldier, has been missing for over two years. The discussion dives deep into the emotional toll of hostage-taking, the U.S. government's role in hostage negotiations, the rise of antisemitism, and their personal stories of resilience and hope.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Itai Hen's Story and the Ongoing Ordeal

• Ruby Hen gives a detailed account of his son Itai’s background—an American-born, typical middle child, active in sports and scouts, who joined the Israeli Defense Forces due to family history and a commitment to the Jewish state.
• On October 7, while serving in a tank division near the Gaza border, Itai’s unit was ambushed. After days of uncertainty, the family learned he was one of three missing soldiers, now hostages—making him the youngest American taken hostage in that attack.
• “Itay was one of the 12 U.S. citizens that were taken hostage. He is the youngest hostage of having a U.S. citizenship… And that has been 759 days ago. And we're still fighting to get him back.” —Ruby Hen (03:24)

Timestamps:

• [02:14] – Ruby recounts Itai’s upbringing, family background, and the events of October 7
• [04:13] – Ruby describes the daily toll and wearing a shirt with Itai’s name and number of days missing

2. Family Advocacy and U.S. Government Involvement

• Ruby details repeated trips to Washington, D.C., and ongoing engagement with U.S. officials (notably President Trump, Vice President, Secretary Rubio, Special Envoy Wytkoff, Jared Kushner).
• He contrasts the approach of different administrations, expressing gratitude for efforts but highlighting the need for continued commitment.
• “This administration has done a fabulous job. Dozens of U.S. Citizens from all over have been able to come back… They both gave me their commitment to jobs out there.” —Ruby Hen (05:17, 06:33)

Timestamps:

• [04:45] – Ruby shares updates on hostages and government contact
• [08:07] – On interactions with the Biden administration and the importance of a bipartisan approach

3. Challenges and Delays in Hostage Negotiations

• Ruby attributes slow progress to both Hamas' negotiating tactics and constraints within U.S. and Israeli policy.
• He challenges narratives claiming Hamas doesn't know the hostages’ whereabouts:
  “I'm not buying that. They don't know. Well, just let's not forget they were the ones that kidnapped and abducted them. So they know where they put them.” —Ruby Hen (07:19)

Timestamps:

• [06:53] – Tudor asks about the cause for delays and Ruby’s response
• [07:57] – On the lack of a robust contingency plan (“Plan B”) by the Biden Administration

4. American Political Climate and Antisemitism

• The discussion pivots to reactions in New York and across the U.S. after October 7, protests, divisions, and lack of public knowledge.
• Ruby often engages with protesters, aiming to humanize the issue, invoking the number of Americans killed and US hostages.
• “Just by taking even deceased people and using them as negotiation trips, like what religion advocates for that?” —Ruby Hen (15:55)

Timestamps:

• [14:42] – Tudor asks about political effect of protests in the U.S.
• [16:47] – The challenge of rising antisemitism and generational change in attitudes

5. Life in Israel and the U.S.: Society, Resilience, and Unity

• Ruby describes Israeli society’s vibrancy and mandatory military service, paralleling Tel Aviv and New York City, but noting Israel’s unique security pressures.
• He reflects on polarization within both U.S. and Israeli politics, arguing for a return to bipartisanship and shared democratic values.

Timestamps:

• [19:54] – Ruby paints a picture of everyday life in Israel and draws similarities and differences with the U.S.
• [22:06] – Discussion on how Israel should reposition itself in the U.S. political landscape

6. Personal Reflections on Hate, Memory, and Hope

• Tudor shares a moving recollection from interviewing Holocaust survivors, highlighting recurring fears among Jewish communities.
• Ruby echoes these sentiments, underscoring the pain of families without closure, and the importance of Jewish burial traditions: “From the Jewish religion, the belief is the soul lives for eternity… the body needs to be in a place that the soul can move forward. And nobody could say that's the case with Itai. And we want him back.” —Ruby Hen (25:45)
• He also movingly recounts the unique suffering of families with no physical place to mourn.
• “I'm a dead man walking, saving my son and saving the living, because he will save me and he'll save my family as well as the others that want them back.” —Ruby Hen (27:45)

Timestamps:

• [24:47] – Ruby shares personal family history and spirituality
• [28:09] – Tudor describes a personal encounter with Donald Trump and attitudes toward family

7. Family, Support Systems, and Looking Forward

• Ruby shares the support provided by the community of hostage families, acknowledging the "curse and the blessing" of this tragic fraternity.
• He describes parenting through trauma and the impact on his younger sons, especially amid a climate of social media-driven hate.
• “So the curse and the blessing is the fact that 255 families have become a new family, families of hostages. And within that you find, you know, those that you are able to use as a support system…” —Ruby Hen (35:04)

Timestamps:

• [29:28] – Ruby discusses his relationship with his other children, keeping family rituals alive
• [34:54] – Impact on his youngest son, efforts to shield him, reliance on support networks

8. A Message to Public Figures and the Need for Shared Humanity

• Ruby occasionally communicates directly with figures like Tucker Carlson to encourage more nuanced, compassionate perspectives on the hostage crisis.
• He stresses the similarities in Abrahamic faiths and the need to focus on love and commonalities.
• “What makes us more similar than what makes us different.” —Ruby Hen (36:36)

Notable Quotes

• On the Hostage Crisis:

  • “We have been able to receive back 247 hostages, but there's still eight left behind, including my son, still the only US citizen left behind in captivity.” —Ruby Hen (04:29)

• On Loss and Closure:

  • “When you feel sad, you want to be with him. You have a place to go to. We don't.” —Ruby Hen paraphrasing his wife, to Special Envoy Witkoff (26:17)

• On Public Understanding:

  • “Most often than not, people were not aware of that fact. And I think it's a good way to start the conversation...” —Ruby Hen, about Americans killed on October 7 (15:19)

• On American and Israeli Unity:

  • “We walk this planet together. There are things you shouldn't be doing.” —Ruby Hen (16:39)

• On Family:

  • “We have our dinner table where we have an empty chair and you know everybody feels it and we all just want to be able to be as whole in order to move on.” —Ruby Hen (30:03)

Memorable Moments & Emotional High Points

• Personal grief shared publicly: Ruby’s decision to wear a shirt each day with his son’s name and number of days missing, staking a claim against forgetting (04:13).
• **Explaining the Jewish view of burial, the soul, and the agony of not having remains returned while advocating for closure (25:45–27:40).
• **The story of Ruby’s engagement with protesters and the struggle to educate peers about the American losses on October 7 (15:09–16:47).
• **Tudor’s retelling of a Holocaust survivor’s warning and realization of its continued relevance today (23:35–24:45).

Conclusion

This episode spotlights the continuing struggle of hostage families, the personal devastation wrought by ongoing captivity, and the broader societal impacts of the Israel-Hamas conflict—from policy and political engagement to rising antisemitism and generational divides in perception. Through Ruby Hen’s testimony, listeners are reminded of both the human cost of such crises and the need for empathy, shared values, and persistent advocacy.

Segment Timestamps

• 02:14 – Itai Hen’s background and October 7 recap
• 04:13 – The symbolic daily act of advocacy
• 05:09 – U.S. government response and commitment
• 06:53 – Reasons for negotiating delays
• 08:07 – Comparing Trump and Biden administration actions
• 14:42 – Antisemitism, New York, and protest reactions
• 19:54 – Life in Israel, democracy, and values
• 22:06 – Israel’s positioning in U.S. society
• 24:47 – Personal family history and the pain of loss
• 28:09 – Family, support systems, and resilience
• 34:54 – Supporting children amidst hate
• 35:56 – A message to public figures and Americans

For more episodes and updates, visit tutordixonpodcast.com.