When I run this: arcpy.management.JoinField("gssurgo_poly","MUKEY","M:/public/fw3540_labs/2022/lab7/gSSURGO_MI.gdb/mapunit","Mapunit key",["Legend Key","Mapunit Key","Mapunit Name","Mapunit Symbol"])
I get the dreaded 9's, and nothing changes in my table.
When I run this (note I have changed from Alias to Field Name): arcpy.management.JoinField("gssurgo_poly","MUKEY","M:/public/fw3540_labs/2022/lab7/gSSURGO_MI.gdb/Mapunit","Mapunit key",["mukey","lkey","musym","muname"])
I get the dreaded 9's, but the four fields populate as Null values.
When I run this: arcpy.management.AddJoin("gssurgo_poly","MUKEY","M:/public/fw3540_labs/2022/lab7/gSSURGO_MI.gdb/Mapunit","Mapunit key")
All the fields populate as Null values
When I run it in the tool:

Runs like a dream.

Just a bug, or am I missing something obvious?