Strange python-38 error when running pip search

[Carlo Tambuatco]

I have python38 installed via macports. It is the default python 
via python_select.

I don’t think I should file a ticket in this case because this error isn’t local to the python(s) 
installed via macports. It even occurs when running a pip search from pythons installed 
manually.

The error occurs when I do 

$ pip search <anything>

Begin error:

ERROR: Exception:
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.8/lib/python3.8/site-packages/pip/_internal/cli/base_command.py", line 224, in _main
    status = self.run(options, args)
  File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.8/lib/python3.8/site-packages/pip/_internal/commands/search.py", line 62, in run
    pypi_hits = self.search(query, options)
  File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.8/lib/python3.8/site-packages/pip/_internal/commands/search.py", line 82, in search
    hits = pypi.search({'name': query, 'summary': query}, 'or')
  File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.8/lib/python3.8/xmlrpc/client.py", line 1109, in __call__
    return self.__send(self.__name, args)
  File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.8/lib/python3.8/xmlrpc/client.py", line 1450, in __request
    response = self.__transport.request(
  File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.8/lib/python3.8/site-packages/pip/_internal/network/xmlrpc.py", line 46, in request
    return self.parse_response(response.raw)
  File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.8/lib/python3.8/xmlrpc/client.py", line 1341, in parse_response
    return u.close()
  File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.8/lib/python3.8/xmlrpc/client.py", line 655, in close
    raise Fault(**self._stack[0])
xmlrpc.client.Fault: <Fault -32500: 'RuntimeError: This API has been temporarily disabled due to unmanageable load and will be deprecated in the near future. Please use the Simple or JSON API instead.’>

End error:


I have no idea what is going on and don’t know where to begin. This started either today or yesterday.