ME does not properly render AE comp with JSON data.

I've got a comp that is pulling data from a JSON file (in the project). I have a controller that selects which client's data is being populated throughout.  When I render it out via render queue, it works. When I try to render it via ME, it just shows the default value of the text layers.

Is this still a known issue? Are there workarounds?

ETA: This is with the most current Ae and Me (18.4.1 (Build 4) and 15.4.1 (Build 5), respectively) on a MBP running Big Sur 11.5.2.