“loophole” is a link in the article to https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2023/12/one-of-the-most-controversial-us-spy-programs-just-got-quietly-renewed/

As I understand it, there’s really two loopholes. One is that they can scoop communications in either direction from the particular communication in question, so could be American to American or foreign to foreign. The other loophe is all of this is put into a database that other agencies can access without a warrant, meaning your domestic communications are freely available.

They’re covering their eyes but peeking between their fingers.