CLN: assorted
- [x] closes #26982
- [x] closes #22373
- [ ] tests added / passed
- [x] passes `black pandas`
- [x] passes `git diff upstream/master -u -- "*.py" | flake8 --diff`
- [ ] whatsnew entry

lgtm. @ivanovmg has a comment  reverted non-unanimous bit lgtm.

whats up with the py38_np_dev build, any idea? > whats up with the py38_np_dev build, any idea?

Looks like a new exception message