ROOT OF PROBLEM: Clerk

The @clerk/nextjs and @clerk/clerk-react packages had react as a dependency instead of a peer dependency which therefore created a dupe, and according to React docs under Rules of Hooks:

"If you see more than one React, you’ll need to figure out why this happens and fix your dependency tree. For example, maybe a library you’re using incorrectly specifies react as a dependency (rather than a peer dependency)."