Messages on macOS Sonoma (14.4.1) does not record voice message

I can reproduce this 100% of the time. The orange microphone icon in the menu bar is there and shows no error while I am trying to record a voice message in Messages. Reproducing the recording has no audio, and the waveform is flat. I am on an M3 Max MacBook Pro. If this is just my machine, what can I do to troubleshoot and possibly resolve? Please know that due to recent bad experience, calling Apple Support will be the last resort.