For sure, the distribution of money and disruption of supply combine to cause inflation. It makes no sense to blame one and not the other.

But what's the alternative? This bout of inflation is an externality of assuring that as few people as possible are priced out of the market for the dwindling supply of goods. Some of the pandemic relief was wasteful, of course. That's how we roll. But some of it was necessary, so the accompanying waste, abuse, and fraud translate into inflation. So be it.

Yes, there is less stuff to consume, so there will be less economic activity consuming it - aka recession. But a case can be made that, were it not for the pandemic and Ukraine war, the amount of money distributed would easily have been absorbed by burgeoning global supply. Sadly, this round of inflation will make it harder to enact a UBI when supply returns.