Mouse clicks, i.e. left click, does not produce any popup for ANY map/project.
Is there some sort of global disable of popups?
You are referring to these?
Pop-ups—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation
Configure pop-ups—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation
more documentation not helping
Got it figured out with a chat with online help.
It's the drop down list on the Map->Explore list, then "Visible Layers" or "Topmost Layer" etc. Sadly, there's a "No popup" choice, also.
first link under open an popup