In this episode, we begin a multi-part examination of Israel, focusing on whether serious and escalating policy disputes between the Kennedy administration and Israeli leadership could constitute motive.

This episode examines four major areas of conflict: Kennedy’s effort to enforce the Foreign Agents Registration Act on pro-Israel lobbying groups, his comparatively pro-Arab Middle East policies, disputes over UN Resolution 194 concerning Palestinian refugees, and—most critically—his confrontation with Israeli leaders over Israel’s secret nuclear weapons program at Dimona. Drawing from historical records, declassified materials, and firsthand accounts, this episode lays the groundwork for a deeper exploration of Israel’s potential role.

In this bonus episode of Solving JFK, I’m joined by acclaimed JFK researcher and author Jim DiEugenio for a conversation that begins with reflections on the recent passing of Rob Reiner and Robert Tanenbaum, both of whom previously appeared on this podcast. Jim discusses his work with Reiner on the project that ultimately became the Who Killed JFK podcast, and why Reiner’s late-career involvement in the JFK case was significant.

The discussion then turns to Tanenbaum’s underappreciated role on the House Select Committee on Assassinations, before shifting into a rebuttal of several claims made in the recent Mafia series on Solving JFK. Jim critiques key sources, offers alternative interpretations, and lays out his overarching theory on the killing of Lee Harvey Oswald by Jack Ruby.

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In this Recap and Rebuttals Part 18, we turn our full attention to Jack Ruby, the man who silenced Lee Harvey Oswald, and ask two questions the official record never convincingly answered: how deeply was Ruby connected to organized crime, and why did he pull the trigger? Joining me is returning guest Don from the Fourth Reich Archaeology podcast, whose detailed work on the Warren Commission and Jack Ruby is stellar. Together, we synthesize what we’ve learned across Episodes 84 and 85 and stress-test the strongest arguments on all sides.

We trace Ruby’s life from his Chicago upbringing and early exposure to the Outfit, through his union work, nightclub ownership in Dallas, and extensive associations with known mob figures tied to Carlos Marcello, Santos Trafficante, and Johnny Roselli. The episode examines Ruby’s gun-running activities, informant roles, unexplained financial support, extraordinary law-enforcement tolerance, and the dramatic spike in long-distance calls and travel just weeks before the assassination. These facts collectively challenge the idea of Ruby as a lone, impulsive actor.

Finally, we confront Ruby’s sudden psychological collapse after examination by Dr. Louis Jolyon West, a psychiatrist deeply connected to CIA MK-Ultra programs. We weigh rebuttals from critics, analyze Ruby’s own recorded statements about “powerful people,” and discuss whether his killing of Oswald was spontaneous or planned. The result is a sober, evidence-driven assessment that leaves listeners to decide for themselves—but makes it increasingly difficult to accept the official explanation at face value.