YouTube player - lectures

I use a vpn (US location) and duckduckgo for my browser. Sometimes when I try to play the video, it tells me to log in first. I click the ‘learn more’ link and nothing happens or I get an error. If I open a new window to access YouTube, I am already automatically logged in.
This issue is sporadic. I figured this is a glitch with my browser and not FCC issue, but I wanted to ask in case there are certain browsers you don’t recommend using or have tips for using VPN and privacy browsers.
Thank you

update: I’ve figured out that it’s my VPN causing the issue even though I am using a US location. Is there a way to fix this or does FCC not work with VPN? Thank you

there are a few documented (in this forum) issues with VPNs

it may be that the VPN is blocking needed traffic