Loophole Puncher: “The rule announced Thursday is intended to close the “gun show loophole” and the related ‘online sale loophole’ by forcing anyone who sells a firearm for profit to register with the federal government. Due to those loopholes, around 20,000 dealers currently operate without licenses and are thus not required to conduct background checks.” Biden administration expands background checks for gun sales. (This will be challenged in court by the time you finish reading this sentence.)

+ Demand of the Rising Sun: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida addressed a joint meeting of Congress. His visit is in part intended to send a message to China. But his message to Americans was broader. “During his speech to lawmakers, Kishida warned about such threats as he looked to reassure Americans he said were experiencing ‘self-doubt’ and exhaustion in upholding ‘international order.’ ‘Without U.S. support, how long before the hopes of Ukraine would collapse under the onslaught from Moscow? Without the presence of the United States, how long before the Indo-Pacific would face even harsher realities?”

+ Shohei the Money: We’re starting to get more details from the federal investigation into Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani’s ex-interpreter. And the amount of money he stole (and apparently lost gambling) dwarfs the initial reports. “The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani stole more than $16 million over two years from Ohtani to pay off gambling debts to an illegal sportsbook.” (That’s a lot of money not to notice missing.)

+ Exclusive Club: “A new analysis released last week by the international non-profit InfluenceMap reveals an overwhelmingly unequal share of fossil fuel pollution worldwide. From 2016 to 2022, 80 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions were produced by just 57 companies.”

+ Passport in the Storm: “The wealthy are building these ‘passport portfolios’ — collections of second, and even third or fourth, citizenships — in case they need to flee their home country.” The rich are getting second passports, citing risk of instability. (I wonder who they’re thinking of when they worry about instability?)

+ Give Me the Download: “FCC Chairperson Jessica Rosenworcel explained that the agency chose to approve and implement it as part of its efforts to ‘end the kind of unexpected fees and junk costs that can get buried in long and mind-numbingly confusing statements of terms and conditions.'” ISPs roll out mandatory broadband ‘nutrition’ labels that show speeds, fees and data allowances.

+ Every Kid Gets a Metal: “The advocacy group Consumer Reports is urging the federal government to remove Lunchables from the national free and reduced-price school lunch program after an analysis found high amounts of sodium and elevated levels of heavy metals.”

+ Do Not Pass, Margot: “A film based on the classic board game Monopoly is preparing to pass go – with Margot Robbie’s production company set to produce it.” A Margot Robbie produced movie based on a toy? That’ll never make money…