It seems to me this is either a bug that everyone is having, a change in gameplay, or a corrupted install. As I don't hardly have time to play this game any more all I can help with is the last possibility, so Please do a full **clean** re-install:
- move any valued save games elsewhere, and user_empire_designs.txt from /Documents/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris/ if you have made any custom empires or races.
- "uninstall" in Steam-Stellaris
- manually delete both the Steam/SteamApps/common/Stellaris AND Documents/Paradox/Stellaris folders
- re-install game in Steam, run a Steam Verify when done.
- add stellaris.exe to the exceptions list of your antivirus app; ESPECIALLY if you have Windows Defender, add it to the Ransomware "Apps Allowed Through" list.
- start the game with no mods active and test with a new galaxy, NOT any existing one
In particular you need to make sure there are no files or folders left under either t...
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