Latest news with #Wicker
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
11 Amazon patio sets under $300 that'll upgrade your outdoor space for summer 2025
Unfortunately, the weather has been a little unpredictable lately, but with summer just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about patio season. Whether you like sipping your morning coffee in the sun or hosting backyard shindigs, having the right outdoor setup can seriously elevate your space. The only problem is that patio furniture can be really costly. But don't worry too much — I did some digging so that you don't have to (you're welcome!). I found a ton of affordable, stylish patio sets on Amazon Canada, and they're all under $300. From smaller bistro sets to full couches and loungers, these picks prove you don't need to blow your savings to enjoy those sweet summer days. Keep scrolling to check out 11 shopper-approved sets that'll turn your backyard into a relaxing oasis. This set is made of all-weather rattan, so it'll hold up through rain or shine. It includes cushioned chairs and an elegant glass-top table. Promising review: One shopper said they're "very satisfied" with the quality, stating it's "much better than I expected." If you have a smaller space, this set won't take up much real estate. The chairs are adjustable, so you can kick back and relax. Promising review: "I'm so impressed," raves one shopper who confirms this "well made" set is a "great buy!" Kick back and relax with these zero gravity chair set, which includes two zero gravity loungers and a matching table. Promising review: Backed by a 4.5-star rating, shoppers say that these gravity chairs "operate very smoothly" and is a "great set for the price." The FDW Wicker Patio Furniture Set rings in at $209, and comes with four durable pieces that you can use all spring and summer long. Promising review: "Looks great on our front porch!" shared one reviewer, who also called this patio set "great value." If your outdoor space gets a lot of sun, this dining set includes a table, four chairs and an umbrella for shade. Promising review: At $210 for six pieces, shoppers love that this set is "very cheap but comes together nicely." The chairs in this patio set have a rocking design that lets you fully relax and enjoy the outdoors. Promising review: This set has been called "very comfortable" by reviewers, with cushions that are "nice and thick." Short on space but still want to add some seating to your outdoor areas? These comfy Acapulco chairs fit the bill. Promising review: Customers call the table and chairs a "perfect set for a balcony," adding that it's "very comfortable" and that the chairs are wider than they thought — bonus! Choose from black and taupe or brown and taupe (pictured) in this woven patio furniture set. Promising review: This set is the "perfect size for a small patio" or front porch, according to reviewers. Made from elegant eucalyptus wood, this conversation set has a sloping backrest and curved seat to fit your body perfectly. Promising review: "Super easy to assemble and very sturdy," shared one reviewer. "Very happy with this purchase!" Since this set is made of acacia wood, it's super durable and won't splinter, rust, crack or peel. Promising review: This set is not only "attractive" and perfect for small spaces, but shoppers also confirm the pieces are "easily portable." This conversation set comes with a secret: the coffee table flips open to reveal extra storage for small outdoor items. Promising review: This set of low chairs makes a great addition to any backyard or balcony, with shoppers noting that "the seating is deep and comfortable."
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Senate Armed Services leader pans Trump's Qatar jet plan
Sen. Roger Wicker, the powerful leader of the Armed Services Committee, disparaged President Donald Trump's plan to accept a Boeing aircraft from Qatar — adding to a bipartisan chorus of lawmakers criticizing the potential gift. Wicker disputed the central rationale for the swap — which Trump is touting as a no-cost solution for a new Air Force One — noting that officials would need to scrub the aircraft for any surveillance equipment and install numerous security upgrades. 'It would be like the United States moving into the Qatari embassy,' he said in an interview. 'I'm not sure how quickly the Qatari aircraft can be retooled.' His comments underscore the rising Republican unease with the idea, a move that experts say could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars and take years to complete. Trump has argued that the Qatari jet is a patriotic gift that could come sooner than Boeing's delayed replacements for the aging Air Force One aircraft he currently uses. But retrofitting the Qatari jet would prove a costly and complex process, Wicker said. The senator called for Boeing to instead 'redouble their efforts,' rather than have Trump accept a gift that would require nearly as much work. 'Clearly, the listening devices, the communication devices, things like that, the safety features all have to be factored in and have to be done to our American standards,' he said. Trump has said he would transfer the jet to his presidential library as a museum piece after he leaves office, an idea that has also raised bipartisan objections. 'If the Qataris want to make a gift to the United States, then it would be a lot more proper for that gift to be made to the government of the United States — to be used by Mr. Trump and his successor — and not given to the library,' Wicker said. Senate Majority Leader John Thune and several other Republican lawmakers have expressed apprehension over the ethical implications and security risks of accepting a lavish gift from a foreign government. Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) have all voiced unease. Democrats are going even further. A group of Senate Democrats, which includes Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, is urging the Department of Defense Inspector General to investigate what they describe as an unconstitutional foreign gift to Trump. The group, which includes Senate Armed Services ranking member Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), argued the plane wouldn't be ready for Trump's use until nearly the end of his term. 'If the Qataris want to make a gift, it should be a gift to the United States — not to one individual, and certainly not something routed through the Pentagon for personal use,' Reed told reporters. Reed said Democrats aren't ruling out a legislative response if the administration proceeds with the Qatar jet plan. He indicated that he would look to Republicans, the majority party, for support. 'We have options,' he said. While no one mentioned the jet during the president's visit to Qatar on Wednesday, there was still a bit of diplomatic theater. The Trump administration announced several defense sales deals that were already in the works, including one that was agreed to under the Biden administration. The White House on Wednesday touted a $1 billion agreement between Raytheon and Qatar for the company's anti-drone system. The agreement was first announced in December during the Biden administration. A $2 billion March agreement between General Atomics and Qatar for surveillance drones was also celebrated in the White House note. The Trump administration announced another $142 billion in potential arms deals with Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to buy U.S. weapons and military equipment. The administration did not provide details as most of the package remains aspirational, said one administration official, who was granted anonymity to discuss potential negotiations. The announcements were reminiscent of Trump's much-touted $100 billion worth of defense deals during his first visit to Saudi Arabia in 2017. That involved tens of billions of dollars in projects already put in motion by the Obama administration.
Politico
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Senate Armed Services leader pans Trump's Qatar jet plan
Sen. Roger Wicker, the powerful leader of the Armed Services Committee, disparaged President Donald Trump's plan to accept a Boeing aircraft from Qatar — adding to a bipartisan chorus of lawmakers criticizing the potential gift. Wicker disputed the central rationale for the swap — which Trump is touting as a no-cost solution for a new Air Force One — noting that officials would need to scrub the aircraft for any surveillance equipment and install numerous security upgrades. 'It would be like the United States moving into the Qatari embassy,' he said in an interview. 'I'm not sure how quickly the Qatari aircraft can be retooled.' His comments underscore the rising Republican unease with the idea, a move that experts say could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars and take years to complete. Trump has argued that the Qatari jet is a patriotic gift that could come sooner than Boeing's delayed replacements for the aging Air Force One aircraft he currently uses. But retrofitting the Qatari jet would prove a costly and complex process, Wicker said. The senator called for Boeing to instead 'redouble their efforts,' rather than have Trump accept a gift that would require nearly as much work. 'Clearly, the listening devices, the communication devices, things like that, the safety features all have to be factored in and have to be done to our American standards,' he said. Trump has said he would transfer the jet to his presidential library as a museum piece after he leaves office, an idea that has also raised bipartisan objections. 'If the Qataris want to make a gift to the United States, then it would be a lot more proper for that gift to be made to the government of the United States — to be used by Mr. Trump and his successor — and not given to the library,' Wicker said. Senate Majority Leader John Thune and several other Republican lawmakers have expressed apprehension over the ethical implications and security risks of accepting a lavish gift from a foreign government. Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) have all voiced unease. Democrats are going even further. A group of Senate Democrats, which includes Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, is urging the Department of Defense Inspector General to investigate what they describe as an unconstitutional foreign gift to Trump. The group, which includes Senate Armed Services ranking member Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), argued the plane wouldn't be ready for Trump's use until nearly the end of his term. 'If the Qataris want to make a gift, it should be a gift to the United States — not to one individual, and certainly not something routed through the Pentagon for personal use,' Reed told reporters. Reed said Democrats aren't ruling out a legislative response if the administration proceeds with the Qatar jet plan. He indicated that he would look to Republicans, the majority party, for support. 'We have options,' he said. While no one mentioned the jet during the president's visit to Qatar on Wednesday, there was still a bit of diplomatic theater. The Trump administration announced several defense sales deals that were already in the works, including one that was agreed to under the Biden administration. The White House on Wednesday touted a $1 billion agreement between Raytheon and Qatar for the company's anti-drone system. The agreement was first announced in December during the Biden administration. A $2 billion March agreement between General Atomics and Qatar for surveillance drones was also celebrated in the White House note. The Trump administration announced another $142 billion in potential arms deals with Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to buy U.S. weapons and military equipment. The administration did not provide details as most of the package remains aspirational, said one administration official, who was granted anonymity to discuss potential negotiations. The announcements were reminiscent of Trump's much-touted $100 billion worth of defense deals during his first visit to Saudi Arabia in 2017. That involved tens of billions of dollars in projects already put in motion by the Obama administration.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Republicans squabble over Trump spending plan as Fiscal Year 2026 looms: 'Stay until we pass it'
President Donald Trump is proposing staggering spending cuts. In his budget request for fiscal year 2026, the president demands that Congress slash an eye-popping 20% of spending which lawmakers allocate each year. "You're going to see $150 billion (in cuts) passed in the House and the Senate. That is real money," said Budget Director Russ Vought on Fox News. "I think for the first time, this budget is not dead on arrival." To be clear, the budget which Mr. Trump sent to Capitol Hill is aspirational. All presidential budgets are. It's what a president proposes that lawmakers – and his administration – aim to spend for the upcoming fiscal year. Congress is still charged with voting on the 12 annual spending bills which fund the government. The 20% cut proposed by President Trump deals with that area of spending. Reporter's Notebook: Where We Stand With Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' The Trump administration characterized this blueprint as a "skinny" budget. That's because it included nothing about Medicare and Medicaid. Those social programs consume exorbitant chunks of federal spending – far exceeding what Congress appropriates each year. Congressional Republicans aim to make alterations of some kind to these programs in their so-called "big, beautiful bill." Republicans insist those programs won't endure cuts. But a "cut" is in the eye of the beholder. Read On The Fox News App "We're going to move towards a long-term balanced budget. I like how we're thinking long-term instead of short-term," said Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., on Fox News. To be clear, the framework for the GOP's big, beautiful bill does not balance the budget. In fact, it increases the budget deficit. And Mr. Trump's budget package doesn't balance either. There's no way to understand such a path unless you include Medicare and Medicaid. But here's what Mr. Trump's budget request does do: It eliminates dollars from every federal department and agency, except the Departments of Transportation and Veterans Affairs. Space programs and NASA are also safe, too. "This is how you break the Swamp," declared the House Freedom Caucus. "The FY '26 budget is a paradigm shift." The president's proposal knifes the Department of Housing and Urban Development by 40%. It axes the Departments of Labor and Interior by 30%. Top Senate Armed Services Republican Says Trump Omb's Budget 'Shreds To The Bone' Military Capabilities However, dollars for the Pentagon are essentially flat. Defense hawks were apoplectic. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., torched Mr. Trump's outline. "Trump successfully campaigned on a Peace Through Strength agenda. But his advisers at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) were apparently not listening," fumed Wicker. "For the defense budget, OMB has requested a fifth year straight of Biden administration funding, leaving military spending flat, which is a cut in real terms." Wicker accused OMB of trying to "shred to the bone" the nation's military. Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., chairs the Senate defense appropriations panel, charged with funding the Pentagon. "It is peculiar how much time the President's advisors spend talking about restoring peace through strength, given how apparently unwilling they've been to invest accordingly in the national defense or in other critical instruments of national power," said McConnell. "I am very concerned the requested base budget for defense does not reflect a realistic path to building the military capability we need to achieve President Trump's Peace Through Strength agenda," said House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala. With friends like these… Trump Slams Republican 'Grandstanders' Opposing Budget Bill, Predicts Massive Us Tax Increases If It Fails Vought fired back at Congressional defense advocates and their allegations that the budget request undercut the military. "It's an inaccurate charge. We provide a trillion dollars in national defense spending. 13% increase. We do it in two components," said Vought. "We use discretionary spending. And then we put in a historic paradigm all of our increases on defense and Homeland Security. We use it in reconciliation so that we only need to use Republican votes. We don't want Democrats to have the filibuster as a veto to then hijack the appropriations process and say no to the Homeland Security spending." Let me fillet that statement for you. In other words, Vought asserts that some of the funding increases for the Pentagon will come through "budget reconciliation," the process Republicans are now using to pass the big, beautiful bill. Republicans intend to pass that package with only GOP votes. But if Republicans included that military money in a "regular" appropriations bill, Democrats may demand "parity." They would insist that non-defense programs score the same increase in exchange for advancing those bills – and voting to overcome a filibuster. So Vought argues his approach keeps Democrats from holding Pentagon dollars hostage in exchange for money targeted toward other programs. But Democrats are focused on what Republicans may try to do with Medicare and Medicaid. They argue that Republicans are teeing up cuts. "Hospitals will close. Nursing homes will shut down. Communities will be hurt. And Americans will die," said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. Republicans insist those programs won't face cuts. "The question is, will we be susceptible to the fear-mongering and the false rhetoric that you just heard from the Democrat Minority Leader in the House? And this is the same tired play they run," said House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, on Fox News. "We will be rewarded because we're doing this for the sustainability of these programs for the most vulnerable." Trump Says Public Entitlements Like Social Security, Medicaid Won't Be Touched In Gop Budget Bill Still, even some remain apprehensive about how the GOP will handle those programs. "If you want to be in the minority forever, then go ahead and do Medicaid cuts," said Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. "That would be catastrophically stupid." House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., met President Trump at the White House late last week to discuss the big, beautiful bill. The White House gave Congressional leaders a wish list of items it wants in the bill – and what can fall by the wayside. Tax credits for electric vehicles are out. "I don't have a problem if somebody wants to go buy an electric vehicle. I just don't think hardworking Americans should be subsidizing that," said House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil, R-Wisc., on Fox News. Republicans hope to use money generated from the sale of EVs to shore up the Highway Trust Fund. The government used the federal gas tax to pay for construction of roads and bridges. But Congress hasn't adjusted the gas tax since the mid-1990s. Plus, more EVs and hybrids are now on the road. And conventional vehicles which rely on gas are more fuel efficient. So this shores up some of those depleted coffers. House Freedom Caucus Embraces Trump Budget Proposal 'Paradigm Shift' Johnson is sticking by his goal to pass the bill through the House by Memorial Day. But some Republicans doubt that timeline. "There's no way," said Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc., on Fox Business. "Unfortunately, President Trump chose the one big, beautiful (bill). What he should have done is the multiple-step process." In other words, lawmakers could have addressed the border, tax cuts and spending cuts in individual chunks. Loading everything onto one legislative truck makes this hard. So can the House approve this in two weeks? There's not a lot of consensus yet. But maybe they'll try to wear Members down. "We will stay until we pass it," said one senior House GOP leadership article source: Republicans squabble over Trump spending plan as Fiscal Year 2026 looms: 'Stay until we pass it'
Fox News
05-05-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Republicans squabble over Trump spending plan as Fiscal Year 2026 looms: 'Stay until we pass it'
President Donald Trump is proposing staggering spending cuts. In his budget request for fiscal year 2026, the president demands that Congress slash an eye-popping 20% of spending which lawmakers allocate each year. "You're going to see $150 billion (in cuts) passed in the House and the Senate. That is real money," said Budget Director Russ Vought on Fox News. "I think for the first time, this budget is not dead on arrival." To be clear, the budget which Mr. Trump sent to Capitol Hill is aspirational. All presidential budgets are. It's what a president proposes that lawmakers – and his administration – aim to spend for the upcoming fiscal year. Congress is still charged with voting on the 12 annual spending bills which fund the government. The 20% cut proposed by President Trump deals with that area of spending. The Trump administration characterized this blueprint as a "skinny" budget. That's because it included nothing about Medicare and Medicaid. Those social programs consume exorbitant chunks of federal spending – far exceeding what Congress appropriates each year. Congressional Republicans aim to make alterations of some kind to these programs in their so-called "big, beautiful bill." Republicans insist those programs won't endure cuts. But a "cut" is in the eye of the beholder. "We're going to move towards a long-term balanced budget. I like how we're thinking long-term instead of short-term," said Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., on Fox News. To be clear, the framework for the GOP's big, beautiful bill does not balance the budget. In fact, it increases the budget deficit. And Mr. Trump's budget package doesn't balance either. There's no way to understand such a path unless you include Medicare and Medicaid. But here's what Mr. Trump's budget request does do: It eliminates dollars from every federal department and agency, except the Departments of Transportation and Veterans Affairs. Space programs and NASA are also safe, too. "This is how you break the Swamp," declared the House Freedom Caucus. "The FY '26 budget is a paradigm shift." The president's proposal knifes the Department of Housing and Urban Development by 40%. It axes the Departments of Labor and Interior by 30%. However, dollars for the Pentagon are essentially flat. Defense hawks were apoplectic. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., torched Mr. Trump's outline. "Trump successfully campaigned on a Peace Through Strength agenda. But his advisers at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) were apparently not listening," fumed Wicker. "For the defense budget, OMB has requested a fifth year straight of Biden administration funding, leaving military spending flat, which is a cut in real terms." Wicker accused OMB of trying to "shred to the bone" the nation's military. Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., chairs the Senate defense appropriations panel, charged with funding the Pentagon. "It is peculiar how much time the President's advisors spend talking about restoring peace through strength, given how apparently unwilling they've been to invest accordingly in the national defense or in other critical instruments of national power," said McConnell. "I am very concerned the requested base budget for defense does not reflect a realistic path to building the military capability we need to achieve President Trump's Peace Through Strength agenda," said House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala. With friends like these… Vought fired back at Congressional defense advocates and their allegations that the budget request undercut the military. "It's an inaccurate charge. We provide a trillion dollars in national defense spending. 13% increase. We do it in two components," said Vought. "We use discretionary spending. And then we put in a historic paradigm all of our increases on defense and Homeland Security. We use it in reconciliation so that we only need to use Republican votes. We don't want Democrats to have the filibuster as a veto to then hijack the appropriations process and say no to the Homeland Security spending." Let me fillet that statement for you. In other words, Vought asserts that some of the funding increases for the Pentagon will come through "budget reconciliation," the process Republicans are now using to pass the big, beautiful bill. Republicans intend to pass that package with only GOP votes. But if Republicans included that military money in a "regular" appropriations bill, Democrats may demand "parity." They would insist that non-defense programs score the same increase in exchange for advancing those bills – and voting to overcome a filibuster. So Vought argues his approach keeps Democrats from holding Pentagon dollars hostage in exchange for money targeted toward other programs. But Democrats are focused on what Republicans may try to do with Medicare and Medicaid. They argue that Republicans are teeing up cuts. "Hospitals will close. Nursing homes will shut down. Communities will be hurt. And Americans will die," said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. Republicans insist those programs won't face cuts. "The question is, will we be susceptible to the fear-mongering and the false rhetoric that you just heard from the Democrat Minority Leader in the House? And this is the same tired play they run," said House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, on Fox News. "We will be rewarded because we're doing this for the sustainability of these programs for the most vulnerable." Still, even some remain apprehensive about how the GOP will handle those programs. "If you want to be in the minority forever, then go ahead and do Medicaid cuts," said Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. "That would be catastrophically stupid." House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., met President Trump at the White House late last week to discuss the big, beautiful bill. The White House gave Congressional leaders a wish list of items it wants in the bill – and what can fall by the wayside. Tax credits for electric vehicles are out. "I don't have a problem if somebody wants to go buy an electric vehicle. I just don't think hardworking Americans should be subsidizing that," said House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil, R-Wisc., on Fox News. Republicans hope to use money generated from the sale of EVs to shore up the Highway Trust Fund. The government used the federal gas tax to pay for construction of roads and bridges. But Congress hasn't adjusted the gas tax since the mid-1990s. Plus, more EVs and hybrids are now on the road. And conventional vehicles which rely on gas are more fuel efficient. So this shores up some of those depleted coffers. Johnson is sticking by his goal to pass the bill through the House by Memorial Day. But some Republicans doubt that timeline. "There's no way," said Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc., on Fox Business. "Unfortunately, President Trump chose the one big, beautiful (bill). What he should have done is the multiple-step process." In other words, lawmakers could have addressed the border, tax cuts and spending cuts in individual chunks. Loading everything onto one legislative truck makes this hard. So can the House approve this in two weeks? There's not a lot of consensus yet. But maybe they'll try to wear Members down. "We will stay until we pass it," said one senior House GOP leadership source.
