Persistent Podcasts app launch with popup asking for sign-in

Apple podcasts keeps launching along with a pop-up asking for my password "to continue using Apple Media Services". It does not accept the password for my apple id. If I hit cancel the popup just opens again immediately. I have to hit Cancel and Command + Q almost simultaneously. They it relaunches again randomly. 15 min. 5 min. Very, very annoying. Tried restarting the Mac. Also tried deleting the app (which of course I can't .

Seems to have started after installing 15.3