Scott Santens
@scottsantens.com
Unconditional / Universal Basic Income (UBI) knowledge resource
Founder & CEO of UBI-focused nonprofit ITSAfoundation.org
Host of The Basic Income Show youtube.com/scottsantens
My #UBI FAQ: scottsantens.com
Contact me: linktr.ee/scottsantens
Founder & CEO of UBI-focused nonprofit ITSAfoundation.org
Host of The Basic Income Show youtube.com/scottsantens
My #UBI FAQ: scottsantens.com
Contact me: linktr.ee/scottsantens
Pinned
Scott Santens
@scottsantens.com
· Dec 5
I've been researching the idea of Unconditional Universal Basic Income since 2013. Here's a collection of findings I've compiled from various UBI experiments and studies of cash transfer programs around the world.
This will be a VERY LONG and ongoing thread focused entirely on empirical evidence. 🧵
This will be a VERY LONG and ongoing thread focused entirely on empirical evidence. 🧵
Reposted by Scott Santens
This is the aftermath of an ICE kidnapping a few blocks from my home in St. Paul—an hour ago. A quiet street full of broken glass and at least three wrecked cars. The target of the kidnapping was taken away by ambulance. He was on a stretcher and covered by a sheet, though a cop said he was alive.
February 11, 2026 at 4:46 PM
This is the aftermath of an ICE kidnapping a few blocks from my home in St. Paul—an hour ago. A quiet street full of broken glass and at least three wrecked cars. The target of the kidnapping was taken away by ambulance. He was on a stretcher and covered by a sheet, though a cop said he was alive.
Reposted by Scott Santens
BREAKING: Pam Bondi appears to have just committed a federal crime by lying under oath.
Ted lieu just caught her in a lie and called for her resignation live on TV.
Ted lieu just caught her in a lie and called for her resignation live on TV.
February 11, 2026 at 5:03 PM
BREAKING: Pam Bondi appears to have just committed a federal crime by lying under oath.
Ted lieu just caught her in a lie and called for her resignation live on TV.
Ted lieu just caught her in a lie and called for her resignation live on TV.
It wasn't enough to ruin SNAP in all the ways most discussed like work requirements. EBT tech is outdated and they refuse to update it, making it easier to steal SNAP, and where they used to issue more funds in response to theft, now they don't and victims are just screwed.
UBI would be far better.
UBI would be far better.
SNAP Faces The 'Worst of All Worlds' - Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity
As SNAP recipients face the impacts of funding cuts and new work requirement guidelines passed by Congress and supported by the Trump administration, an added worry is outdated EBT card technology tha...
spotlightonpoverty.org
February 11, 2026 at 4:31 PM
It wasn't enough to ruin SNAP in all the ways most discussed like work requirements. EBT tech is outdated and they refuse to update it, making it easier to steal SNAP, and where they used to issue more funds in response to theft, now they don't and victims are just screwed.
UBI would be far better.
UBI would be far better.
Reposted by Scott Santens
They keep doing studies on UBI and the answer keeps coming back, “It’s more than worth it.” Stunned by this outcome conservatives say, “that can’t be right. Let’s do another study.” Rinse and repeat.
February 11, 2026 at 2:11 AM
They keep doing studies on UBI and the answer keeps coming back, “It’s more than worth it.” Stunned by this outcome conservatives say, “that can’t be right. Let’s do another study.” Rinse and repeat.
Reposted by Scott Santens
Weird how they keep finding more money to fund the gestapo that is damaging job numbers by deporting workers but can't find any for a universal healthcare system that will save money, a free housing for homeless folk program that will save money, or universal basic income that'll boost the economy.
February 11, 2026 at 2:36 AM
Weird how they keep finding more money to fund the gestapo that is damaging job numbers by deporting workers but can't find any for a universal healthcare system that will save money, a free housing for homeless folk program that will save money, or universal basic income that'll boost the economy.
Reposted by Scott Santens
I want universal basic income, universal health care, buses and trains and livable wages and affordable rent, and I want my tax dollars to go towards that instead of billionaire-hosted rape festivals. Everyone does. That's not radical. It's survival.
Americans want to survive. Fucking help us.
Americans want to survive. Fucking help us.
February 11, 2026 at 5:51 AM
I want universal basic income, universal health care, buses and trains and livable wages and affordable rent, and I want my tax dollars to go towards that instead of billionaire-hosted rape festivals. Everyone does. That's not radical. It's survival.
Americans want to survive. Fucking help us.
Americans want to survive. Fucking help us.
Reposted by Scott Santens
I know there are more nuanced takes and authoritative studies to reference, but the entirety of my argument for UBI is that we need 1000000% more people working on goofy lil' toys and weirdo puppets.
Never in my fucken life would I have imagined I’d be sending a strongly worded email at 1:00am to a group of dumbass corporate managers voicing my concerns regarding “time expenditure considerations” for my kitchen team
I’m just supposed to be making goofy lil’ toys and weirdo puppets
I’m just supposed to be making goofy lil’ toys and weirdo puppets
February 11, 2026 at 7:01 AM
I know there are more nuanced takes and authoritative studies to reference, but the entirety of my argument for UBI is that we need 1000000% more people working on goofy lil' toys and weirdo puppets.
Reposted by Scott Santens
A mock Onion headline I wrote a while back:
![[Text]
273rd UBI Trial Successful, Parliament Cautions "Need More Data"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:jnwhlckbw7xogdsrmmibmbrj/bafkreibbrlqwybtgucqr3dpbmsxhu5x3zxtefo7uw2ky2vqqp67vu7376e@jpeg)
February 11, 2026 at 12:15 PM
A mock Onion headline I wrote a while back:
Reposted by Scott Santens
Every day some freelance illustrator on here calls for the uk to copy the Irish scheme of a basic income for artists and every time it pmo so bad - like omg dare to dream this should be in place for EVERYONE, for EVERYONNNNNNE
February 11, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Every day some freelance illustrator on here calls for the uk to copy the Irish scheme of a basic income for artists and every time it pmo so bad - like omg dare to dream this should be in place for EVERYONE, for EVERYONNNNNNE
Reposted by Scott Santens
Said it before, and I’ll say it again, but for people like me, this would be transformative - it would stabilise our incomes, and allow us to plough more time into creative work and less into stuff anyone could be doing.
AND it’s a net economic benefit to the country.
AND it’s a net economic benefit to the country.
February 11, 2026 at 10:57 AM
Said it before, and I’ll say it again, but for people like me, this would be transformative - it would stabilise our incomes, and allow us to plough more time into creative work and less into stuff anyone could be doing.
AND it’s a net economic benefit to the country.
AND it’s a net economic benefit to the country.
Reposted by Scott Santens
Ireland has shown that basic income works — not just socially, but economically.
Give people time and security to develop their skills, and the returns flow back to society. Now let’s go further.
#UniversalBasicIncome #Economics
Give people time and security to develop their skills, and the returns flow back to society. Now let’s go further.
#UniversalBasicIncome #Economics
February 11, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Ireland has shown that basic income works — not just socially, but economically.
Give people time and security to develop their skills, and the returns flow back to society. Now let’s go further.
#UniversalBasicIncome #Economics
Give people time and security to develop their skills, and the returns flow back to society. Now let’s go further.
#UniversalBasicIncome #Economics
Reposted by Scott Santens
We have received numerous credible reports of torture, killing, and inhumane treatment of detained individuals at the Camp East Montana migrant detention facility, located within Fort Bliss. #txlege
February 10, 2026 at 6:47 PM
We have received numerous credible reports of torture, killing, and inhumane treatment of detained individuals at the Camp East Montana migrant detention facility, located within Fort Bliss. #txlege
"Rather than creating an age of abundance in which most people no longer have to worry about money, new technologies have contributed to a two-tiered society comprising a relatively few with extraordinary wealth and a vast number of people barely making it."
It's all about distribution
We need UBI
It's all about distribution
We need UBI
AI and the Coming Jobless Economy
AI will make most of us poorer and a few fabulously wealthy — unless its productivity gains are allocated fairly. Here’s what we should we be considering now.
open.substack.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:20 PM
"Rather than creating an age of abundance in which most people no longer have to worry about money, new technologies have contributed to a two-tiered society comprising a relatively few with extraordinary wealth and a vast number of people barely making it."
It's all about distribution
We need UBI
It's all about distribution
We need UBI
OH COME ON
Trump to direct Pentagon to buy coal to revive industry, Bloomberg News says reut.rs/46vkQiO
Trump to direct Pentagon to buy coal to revive industry, Bloomberg News says
U.S. President Donald Trump is set to direct the Pentagon to use government funding and Pentagon contracts to sustain U.S. coal-fired power plants, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing a White House official.
reut.rs
February 11, 2026 at 5:46 AM
OH COME ON
Reposted by Scott Santens
Rep Ro Khanna today said he saw instructions given by Trump to the FBI directing that they redact references to interactions with him in the testimony of Epstein victims. This would appear to be one of the passages that was supposed to have been redacted.
February 11, 2026 at 4:15 AM
Rep Ro Khanna today said he saw instructions given by Trump to the FBI directing that they redact references to interactions with him in the testimony of Epstein victims. This would appear to be one of the passages that was supposed to have been redacted.
Reposted by Scott Santens
Helluva statement from Colorado Rep Crow (D) on the Trump administration's failure to indict him and others
February 11, 2026 at 2:35 AM
Helluva statement from Colorado Rep Crow (D) on the Trump administration's failure to indict him and others
Reposted by Scott Santens
Ireland’s basic income for the arts scheme becomes permanent
When piloted, initiative that provided €325 a week to eligible artists recouped more than its net cost, study shows
When piloted, initiative that provided €325 a week to eligible artists recouped more than its net cost, study shows
Ireland’s basic income for the arts scheme becomes permanent
When piloted, initiative that provided €325 a week to eligible artists recouped more than its net cost, study shows
www.theguardian.com
February 10, 2026 at 10:42 PM
Ireland’s basic income for the arts scheme becomes permanent
When piloted, initiative that provided €325 a week to eligible artists recouped more than its net cost, study shows
When piloted, initiative that provided €325 a week to eligible artists recouped more than its net cost, study shows
Reposted by Scott Santens
🚨 BREAKING: Lawmakers say today that Trump’s personal lawyers: Bondi, Blanche and Patel — withheld or redacted an estimated 95% of references to Donald Trump in the Epstein files!!!!!
This is roughly 950,000 of 1M+ mentions, per staff calculations.
This is roughly 950,000 of 1M+ mentions, per staff calculations.
February 10, 2026 at 8:50 PM
🚨 BREAKING: Lawmakers say today that Trump’s personal lawyers: Bondi, Blanche and Patel — withheld or redacted an estimated 95% of references to Donald Trump in the Epstein files!!!!!
This is roughly 950,000 of 1M+ mentions, per staff calculations.
This is roughly 950,000 of 1M+ mentions, per staff calculations.
Reposted by Scott Santens
H.R. 6644, the Housing for the 21st Century Act, passed the House tonight 390–9, a rare bipartisan moment in an increasingly partisan World.
The bill modernizes federal housing programs, expands financing tools & cuts red tape to help boost housing supply nationwide.
The bill modernizes federal housing programs, expands financing tools & cuts red tape to help boost housing supply nationwide.
February 10, 2026 at 1:44 AM
H.R. 6644, the Housing for the 21st Century Act, passed the House tonight 390–9, a rare bipartisan moment in an increasingly partisan World.
The bill modernizes federal housing programs, expands financing tools & cuts red tape to help boost housing supply nationwide.
The bill modernizes federal housing programs, expands financing tools & cuts red tape to help boost housing supply nationwide.
Reposted by Scott Santens
Big update -- read our latest newsletter
Major UBI Skeptic Flipped, Plus We Went Viral with a Nobel Laureate Couple
www.ubiworks.ca/blog/ubi-wor...
Major UBI Skeptic Flipped, Plus We Went Viral with a Nobel Laureate Couple
www.ubiworks.ca/blog/ubi-wor...
Major UBI Skeptic Flipped, Plus We Went Viral with a Nobel Laureate Couple
UBI Works Newsletter, Feb 2026
www.ubiworks.ca
February 10, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Big update -- read our latest newsletter
Major UBI Skeptic Flipped, Plus We Went Viral with a Nobel Laureate Couple
www.ubiworks.ca/blog/ubi-wor...
Major UBI Skeptic Flipped, Plus We Went Viral with a Nobel Laureate Couple
www.ubiworks.ca/blog/ubi-wor...
Reposted by Scott Santens
i think anyone who's opposed to UBI should have to try signing up for any government benefits program even once. shit is genuinely evil. oh you need food assistance? ok prove to us you're a Deserving Poor. if you don't work you don't get help. if you can't work then get fucked i guess
February 10, 2026 at 5:13 PM
i think anyone who's opposed to UBI should have to try signing up for any government benefits program even once. shit is genuinely evil. oh you need food assistance? ok prove to us you're a Deserving Poor. if you don't work you don't get help. if you can't work then get fucked i guess
Reposted by Scott Santens
NEW: ICE is leasing offices throughout the US as part of a secret, months-long expansion campaign. WIRED is publishing dozens of these locations.
ICE Is Expanding Across the US at Breakneck Speed. Here’s Where It’s Going Next
ICE plans to lease offices throughout the US as part of a secret, months-long expansion campaign. WIRED is publishing dozens of these locations.
www.wired.com
February 10, 2026 at 4:07 PM
NEW: ICE is leasing offices throughout the US as part of a secret, months-long expansion campaign. WIRED is publishing dozens of these locations.
Reposted by Scott Santens
This is starting to get like universal basic income where every single objective study shows the same result but the people who don't like that result go "uh, well there's just really no way to know"
HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW: “.. In our in-progress research, we discovered that AI tools didn’t reduce work, they consistently intensified it.”
hbr.org/2026/02/ai-d...
hbr.org/2026/02/ai-d...
February 10, 2026 at 3:06 PM
This is starting to get like universal basic income where every single objective study shows the same result but the people who don't like that result go "uh, well there's just really no way to know"
Reposted by Scott Santens
"A modern-day concentration camp ... People have been killed by the staff here." Irish citizen Seamus Culleton has been in ICE detention since September, despite having a valid work permit and his own business in the US.
February 10, 2026 at 10:09 AM
"A modern-day concentration camp ... People have been killed by the staff here." Irish citizen Seamus Culleton has been in ICE detention since September, despite having a valid work permit and his own business in the US.
Things can be so much better than they are. As part of fighting back all the unnecessary horrors going on at present, let us build that better future that goes far beyond the prior status quo. Universal basic income and healthcare are moral imperatives. We are so far beyond any need for deprivation.
February 10, 2026 at 3:41 PM
Things can be so much better than they are. As part of fighting back all the unnecessary horrors going on at present, let us build that better future that goes far beyond the prior status quo. Universal basic income and healthcare are moral imperatives. We are so far beyond any need for deprivation.