Comment on Universal basic income vs. welfare: Here's what UBI could mean for America's safety net

Scott Olson/Getty ImagesDonald Trump is expected to sign at least 100 executive orders on his first day in office. Investors will watch how Trump approaches tariffs, which could stir up jitters in the bond and FX markets. The energy, finance, and crypto sectors stand to benefit if Trump loosens policy.

Julia PugachevskyI got a body composition analysis through my gym, with a trainer explaining the results to me. While my BMI and muscle mass were in healthy ranges, my body fat was not. The results encouraged me to add more weights at the gym and drink more water. If there was ever a time for me to scan my body for any health weaknesses, it was now.

Kent Nishimura/Getty Images; Rebecca Noble/Getty Images; Chelsea Jia Feng/BIAs Donald Trump returns to the White House, loyalty will be a key aspect of his second term. Unlike 2017, Trump is no longer a political outsider adjusting to Washington for the first time. On Inauguration Day, Trump will be sworn in with a firm grip on the Republican Party.

iStock; Rebecca Zisser/BIWhen a new year rolls around, social circles split into two groups. The dividing line: alcohol. There are the people doing Dry January, swearing off booze for the month to regroup after the holiday season's indulgence. Then there are the people who have no plans to shift gears — if anything, they're excited that all the January teetotaling means smaller bar crowds.

Universal basic income can help participants afford essentials like groceries and housing.d3sign/Getty ImagesUniversal basic income is recurring cash payments for participants, no strings attached. Traditional welfare restricts spending to specific categories, like healthcare or groceries. Basic-income policy could supplement welfare but likely wouldn't replace the existing safety net. As America's cities look to alleviate poverty, universal basic income has been proposed by local leaders as a complement to existing welfare.

A composite image shows the decommissioned aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy, left, next to a photo illustration of the future Ford-class supercarrier bearing the same name. Joshua Karsten/US Navy via Getty Images/US Navy photo illustration courtesy of Newport News Shipbuilding/Business InsiderThe ex-aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy began its final journey to the scrapyard.