It's not mixed messaging if you understand the position the astronauts are in. Modern NASA has become deeply intertwined with politics. Many of the things they do are awful ideas and/or will never come to fruition. For instance Artemis is never going anywhere. Any person reasonably well informed in space, including every single astronaut, could offer countless reasons why. But in public they're required to smile, nod, and cheer its inevitable success on. If they don't - they're never going to fly again.
So astronauts will answer direct factual questions truthfully - but their opinions are not going to be given in earnest, but rather 100% political.
And there was no prepared backup for Starliner. That launch had been delayed for years and by the time it actually got off the ground (which never should have been allowed), it was probably as much a shock to NASA (and Boeing) as to everybody else. The final plan was only decided long after the fact, and caused major issues.
So astronauts will answer direct factual questions truthfully - but their opinions are not going to be given in earnest, but rather 100% political.
And there was no prepared backup for Starliner. That launch had been delayed for years and by the time it actually got off the ground (which never should have been allowed), it was probably as much a shock to NASA (and Boeing) as to everybody else. The final plan was only decided long after the fact, and caused major issues.