Error messages while verifying code with Visual Studio Code
It works with Arduino IDE either 1.8.9 OR 1.8.12 BUT the VS code extension is broken. So 


You have to downgrade to January release 1.42 AND
Then turn off automatic updates for the moment.


How to get the release: Click here 

Before installing /downgrade
The excessive debug logging is caused by running Java with -DDEBUG=true. Adding -DDEBUG=false to the C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\arduino_debug.l4j.ini fixes it for now.