I will try the chat agent you mentioned. Clearing my browser cache or choosing a different browser doesn't seem like it has anything to do with the Creative Cloud native application running on my desktop and downloading applications. If it does then the default OS browser in Mac OS seems like it should actually function.
And CC has been working for months and months. Why in the last week has it given up functioning? I will post results of my chat session here if they help to resolve the issue.