Latest news with #RodneyScott
The Hill
16 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Threat of sleeper cells in US has ‘never been higher': CBP
The threat of sleeper cells in the U.S. has 'never been higher,' though there are no current specific threats, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). A memo sent Saturday from CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott, obtained by The Hill's sister network NewsNation, said 'thousands of Iranian nationals have been documented entering the United States illegally and countless more were likely in the known and unknown got-a-ways.' 'Though we have not received any specific credible threats to share with you all currently, the threat of sleeper cells or sympathizers acting on their own, or at the behest of Iran has never been higher,' Scott added. The memo urged CPB personnel to remain 'vigilant.' On Saturday, Trump announced that the U.S. had bombed three Iranian nuclear sites, stepping into an ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel. Iran's ambassador to the United Nations slammed the U.S.'s involvement in its conflict against Israel and said his nation's military would figure out its response following Trump's ordering of the bombing of the nuclear sites. NewsNation correspondent Rich McHugh said Friday on the network that 'experts that we've talked to said that should the U.S. join these strikes against Iran, they may try to activate these sleeper cells in the U.S. and the West.' On Sunday, retired Gen. Frank McKenzie, the former commander of U.S. Central Command (Centcom), said that he believed U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria were 'certainly vulnerable' to retaliatory attacks by Iran.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Rodney Scott confirmed as head of CBP by US Senate despite ‘cover-up' claim
The US Senate on Wednesday confirmed Rodney Scott as commissioner of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), despite a former top official accusing him of orchestrating a 'cover-up' over the death of a man detained while trying to enter the country from Mexico. Scott was confirmed on a party-line vote, with 51 Republicans in favor and 46 Democrats opposed, along with three absences. 'I'm honored that the United States Senate has confirmed me, and I want to thank President [Donald] Trump and Secretary [Kristi] Noem for their trust and unwavering leadership,' Scott said in a statement following the vote. 'I started my career on the frontlines, and now I am ready to lead my CBP family with integrity and a clear mission to defend our sovereignty, enforce the law, and put America first.' He will take charge of one of the largest federal law enforcement agencies, which staffs ports of entry across the United States and also includes the border patrol, which he led from 2020 to 2021. Border patrol agents have recently been seen on the streets of a Los Angeles suburb as part of Trump's campaign to arrest suspected undocumented immigrants. Massive protests have broken out in response, and CBP has publicly announced that it is using drones to monitor demonstrations in the region. A critic of Joe Biden's immigration policies and supporter of Trump's desire to build a wall along the border with Mexico, Scott was nominated by Trump in December to lead CBP. Shortly before his confirmation hearing before the Senate finance committee in April, James Wong, a former deputy assistant commissioner of CBP's office of internal affairs, wrote to the committee's top Democrat with 'concern' about Scott's handling of the investigation into the 2010 death of Anastasio Hernández Rojas in San Diego, after he was beaten and tased by CBP agents who were preparing to deport him. As San Diego's police department was investigating the death, a CBP critical incident team used a subpoena to obtain Hernández Rojas's medical records, which Wong said Scott would have known about given his position at the time as a top border patrol official in the city. 'The use of a CBP administrative subpoena for this purpose was blatantly unlawful, and anyone signing it should have known that,' Wong wrote in a letter to the committee's Democratic ranking member, Ron Wyden. 'This was not an investigation, it was a cover-up – one Mr Scott supervised. This abuse of power disqualifies him from leading one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the country.' At the hearing, Scott described the subpoena as 'information gathering' and a standard part of such investigations. Asked by the Republican finance committee chair, Mike Crapo, if he had acted 'to interfere with the investigation of that case', Scott replied: 'Absolutely not.' In 2021, a House oversight committee report found that Scott was a member of 'I'm 10-15', a private Facebook group for border patrol agents in which participants insulted members of Congress and posted 'racist and sexually violent content' directed at lawmakers. Scott told the finance committee: 'There were 9,000 people on that group. To say that a few that actually posted something inappropriate, were held accountable, and were disciplined are a reflection of everyone else on that group, I think, is just a [mischaracterization].' When the committee convened again in May before voting to advance his nomination to the Senate floor, Wyden warned Scott would act as a loyalist for the president: 'We don't need to question what Mr Scott would do if given a questionable order from Donald Trump, because we already know he has a history of covering up the truth when it benefits him in a willingness to enable Donald Trump's worst impulses to target American citizens exercising their constitutional rights.' Crapo said Scott 'knows what policies make CBP effective, and I'm confident he will implement these policies as soon as he is confirmed'.
Miami Herald
28-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Target expands private label offerings through chef partnership
Dive Brief: Target announced Wednesday it has teamed up with James Beard Award-winning pitmaster Rodney Scott to launch 12 co-branded products for the retailer's Good & Gather Good & Gather Collabs + Rodney Scott collection features barbecue goods such as Carolina-style appetizers, relish, sauces, honey-flavored cornbread and muffin mix, and brown sugar baked collaboration marks Target's second time co-branding food items under its private label line as the retailer works to ramp up its offerings under its grocery brands. Dive Insight: The new collaboration comes at the beginning of the summer merchandising season, when consumers look to retailers for supplies to fuel their cookouts. All of the products under the new collab are under $9, with a majority under $4, Target said. An unspecified number of items under the collab will have a starting price of $2.99 for a limited time, according to the retailer. The items will be sold in stores and online starting June 1. Scott, who grew up in South Carolina, has "perfected the art of whole-hog BBQ" and brings a positive attitude, Target said. Target launched its first Good & Gather Collabs earlier this year with fellow James Beard Award-winning chef and restaurateur Ann Kim. That line featured frozen pizzas and appetizers. Grocery, and especially private label grocery, is playing a key role in Target's summer plans. Earlier this month, Target included grocery items in its plans to add more than 10,000 items to its assortment this summer, with thousands priced below $20. The retailer has also planned in-store seasonal displays, including The Boardwalk Shop, a food and beverage destination featuring seasonal treats such as red, white and blue snacks and limited-time build-your-own s'mores kits. Target has also announced seasonal private label items like beef burger patties and several Favorite Day items, such as tart cherry ice cream, dill pickle pretzel twists and hot chili lime popcorn. Launched in 2019, Good & Gather is Target's top-selling private brand, with more than 2,500 items that are free from artificial flavors, synthetic colors, artificial sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup. Food and beverage was a bright spot in Target's first quarter as nearly all other categories recorded declines in sales during the period. Net and comparable-store sales were down 2.8% and 3.8%, respectively, for the quarter, the retailer reported earlier this month. Copyright 2025 Industry Dive. All rights reserved.
Eater
28-05-2025
- Business
- Eater
Acclaimed Pitmaster Rodney Scott Launches a Line of Sauces and Sides at Target
If you're not lucky enough to live near one of the five locations of Rodney Scott's BBQ across the Southeast, then you'll soon be able to quell your cravings for tangy barbecue sauce with a trip to Target. James Beard Award-winning pitmaster Rodney Scott has teamed up with the corporate retailer to bring Southern flavors to the shelves through a collaboration with Good & Gather, Target's in-house line of food products. The 12 items are designed to enhance an at-home barbecue. The products include Carolina-style sauces, honey cornbread, mac and cheese, pork rinds, baked beans, iced tea, and more. However, for whole-hog barbecue, you'll still need to visit a Rodney Scott's BBQ. Scott got his start in barbecue working for his family's whole-hog business, Scott's Bar-B-Que, in Hemingway, South Carolina. Barbecue enthusiasts drove from all over the United States to get a taste of Scott's slow-cooked pork. He opened Rodney Scott's BBQ in Charleston in 2017. Fans quickly lined up for a taste of whole hog, skins, and sides. And they still line up today to try Scott's famed fare. The pitmaster went on to win a James Beard Award, write a cookbook, and travel the world spreading tastes of whole-hog barbecue. The Rodney Scott collaboration with Good & Gather launches June 1 for in-store and online purchasing. Below is the full selection of products. Do you think you'll give them a taste? Sign up for our newsletter.
