Photo of the Day.

Mike Bloomberg together with the presidents of colleges and universities participating in Bloomberg Philanthropies’ American Talent Initiative, which aims to educate more high-achieving, low-and moderate-income students (Photo: Bloomberg Philanthropies)

Most Read on the Terminal (Last 8 Hours): China Seizes Anbang, Charges Dealmaking Founder With Fraud (Bloomberg)

A viral campaign around the hashtag #safetyinnumbers gave Everytown for Gun Safety, the group founded and funded by Mike Bloomberg, more Instagram followers than the NRA. Everytown for Gun Safety Just Overtook the NRA on Instagram (Marie Claire)Thousands Volunteer, Donate to Help Mike Bloomberg & Everytown Fight Gun Violence (CNBC) How Colorado Gun Control Advocates Beat the NRA (The New Yorker)

Efforts to quickly address gun violence in the wake of a mass shooting at a Florida high school are beginning to face a familiar political reality, as gun-rights advocates reassert their traditional power in Washington. Trump’s Embrace of NRA Brings Old Obstacle to Latest Gun Debate (Bloomberg)

President Trump’s decision to place himself at the center of the roiling debate over the nation’s gun laws began hours after last week’s Florida high school massacre, when images of angry yet poised teenage survivors were beamed into the White House on live television. ‘We’re going to take action’: Inside Trump’s Shifting stance on gun rights (Washington Post)

In an exclusive interview with Saleha Mohsin, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin brushed aside signs that investors are nervous about rising prices and criticism that growing debt will harm U.S. economic security, declaring that President Donald Trump’s policies won’t cause inflation. Mnuchin Urges Markets to Shrug Off Worries Over Tax Cuts, Debt (Bloomberg)

U.S. regulators are scrutinizing this month’s implosion of investments that track stock-market turmoil, including whether wrongdoing contributed to steep losses for VIX exchange-traded products offered by Credit Suisse Group AG and other firms, several people familiar with the matter said. VIX Funds Face Fresh Scrutiny From U.S. Regulators (Bloomberg)

Securities regulators plan to pare back Obama-era requirements that would require mutual funds to tell shareholders about large holdings of hard-to-sell assets, in what would be a significant concession to the industry. Regulators to Pull Back on Obama-Era Mutual-Fund Rules (WSJ)

For at least an hour each weekday, Jay Sekulow, a lawyer for President Donald Trump, takes a break from tasks like negotiating terms for Special Counsel Robert Mueller to interview the president to host a live call-in radio show that’s broadcast nationally. Trump’s Lawyer Uses Radio Show to Chip Away at Mueller Probe (Bloomberg)

Across the coal belt in Kentucky, West Virginia, and Virginia, black lung disease is making a grim comeback, even among younger miners. Black Lung Disease Comes Storming Back in Coal Country (NY Times)

President Xi Jinping will convene a Communist Party meeting within days to select China’s next government, including monetary and financial regulators, according to people familiar with the matter. China Plans Party Huddle With PBOC, Policy Jobs in Play (Bloomberg)

Best of Late Night.

At a CNN town hall meeting on Wednesday night, Senator Marco Rubio was grilled over gun control by students from Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. Trevor Noah highlighted the moment when a student asked the senator to promise he wouldn’t take any more campaign contributions from the National Rifle Association. Rubio demurred.

“That was so awkward for Marco Rubio. He looked like a dad trying to explain to his son why he cheated on his mom. He was like, ‘You see, Cameron, sometimes a politician has needs. And when the NRA opens their wallet, it’s so hard to resist. Heh, heh. One day you’ll understand, kid.’” — TREVOR NOAH

Jimmy Kimmel summed up that particular exchange succinctly.

“And at that moment, Marco Rubio realized he had lost the high school debate 30 years after graduating high school.” — JIMMY KIMMEL

Colbert had his own take. Talking them through the loopholes, Rubio warned, “once you start looking… you would literally have to ban every semi-automatic rifle that’s sold in America.”

The audience erupted in applause. This surprised the senator, who responded, “Okay. Fair enough.”

“That is a guy who cannot read the room,” Colbert snarked, accurately.

“Now, look, we’d have to get rid of guns and then it’s a slippery slope to fewer dead people. Oh, you’d like that?” Colbert joked, pretending to be the senator.

Best of Twitter.

@MikeBloomberg: Every qualified high school student in the US should have an opportunity to attend college. The 96 top colleges & universities participating in @BloombergDotOrg’s American Talent Initiative are making progress toward that goal and improving our country.

Headlines from around the world.

Bloomberg (UK): May’s Cabinet Backs the Brexit Plan the EU Is Poised to Reject

USA TODAY: Net neutrality clock ticking for those who want old rules back

China Daily: ROK okays visit by DPRK representative to pursue peace

Japan Times: Kyoto develops new niche, hosting wedding ceremonies for international couples who cherish traditional Japan

Times of India: Trump administration makes H1-B visa approval tough, Indian firms to be impacted