Cannot Build React Native Project After Updating Mac OS (15.2) and xCode (16.2)

I have been unsuccessful trying to get my project to build all week on xCode.

It was running fine on the previous OS with xCode 15, but now - I am having all sorts of build issues (xCode (16.2). I have tried everything in the book.

My RN version is 0.72.17.

I am running a M3 Macbook.

My cocoapods version is 1.14.3 (I tried 1.16.x, no luck), and I have not had any build errors specific to any of my dependencies. They have all made no sense, especially this last one I've been stuck on:

My podfile currently looks like this, I have flipper disabled:

# Resolve react_native_pods.rb with node to allow for hoisting
require Pod::Executable.execute_command('node', ['-p',
  'require.resolve(
    "react-native/scripts/react_native_pods.rb",
    {paths: [process.argv[1]]},
  )', __dir__]).strip

platform :ios, '13.4'
# platform :ios, min_ios_version_supported
prepare_react_native_project!

use_modular_headers!


# If you are using a `react-native-flipper` your iOS build will fail when `NO_FLIPPER=1` is set.
# because `react-native-flipper` depends on (FlipperKit,...) that will be excluded
#
# To fix this you can also exclude `react-native-flipper` using a `react-native.config.js`
# ```js
# module.exports = {
#   dependencies: {
#     ...(process.env.NO_FLIPPER ? { 'react-native-flipper': { platforms: { ios: null } } } : {}),
# ```
# flipper_config = ENV['NO_FLIPPER'] == "1" ? FlipperConfiguration.disabled : FlipperConfiguration.enabled

linkage = ENV['USE_FRAMEWORKS']
if linkage != nil
  Pod::UI.puts "Configuring Pod with #{linkage}ally linked Frameworks".green
  use_frameworks! :linkage => linkage.to_sym
end

target 'buds' do
  config = use_native_modules!

  # Flags change depending on the env values.
  flags = get_default_flags()

  use_frameworks! :linkage => :static
  $RNFirebaseAsStaticFramework = true

  use_react_native!(
    :path => config[:reactNativePath],
    # Hermes is now enabled by default. Disable by setting this flag to false.
    :hermes_enabled => flags[:hermes_enabled],
    :fabric_enabled => flags[:fabric_enabled],
    # Enables Flipper.
    #
    # Note that if you have use_frameworks! enabled, Flipper will not work and
    # you should disable the next line.
    # :flipper_configuration => flipper_config,
    # An absolute path to your application root.
    :app_path => "#{Pod::Config.instance.installation_root}/.."
  )

  target 'budsTests' do
    inherit! :complete
    # Pods for testing
  end

  post_install do |installer|
    # https://github.com/facebook/react-native/blob/main/packages/react-native/scripts/react_native_pods.rb#L197-L202
    react_native_post_install(
      installer,
      config[:reactNativePath],
      :mac_catalyst_enabled => false
    )
    # __apply_Xcode_12_5_M1_post_install_workaround(installer)
  end
end

I appreciate any advice I can get here at this point.

Cheers!