Wi-fi causes unstable behaviour with this kernel version

After a recent update to linux-image-5.4.0-56, my Ubuntu install has become unusable. Some symptoms:
- Firefox would apparently launch but window would never appear
- Thunderbird would launch but hang shortly after displaying window
- "ip addr" would hang
- "sudo <anything>" would hang without ever prompting for password
- The "Settings" dialog would complain that NetManager was not running
Based on a bit of internet research, I removed my wi-fi USB device and rebooted, and now the system will run. So, it seems this latest version has some issue with the wifi support needed for my card which lsusb describes as:
 Bus 001 Device 002: ID 148f:761a Ralink Technology, Corp. MT7610U ("Archer T2U" 2.4G+5G WLAN Adapter

Note that I'm currently running under the next-to-last version installed,linux-image-5.4.0-54, which supports this card just fine.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.04
Package: linux-image-5.4.0-54-generic 5.4.0-54.60
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.4.0-54.60-generic 5.4.65
Uname: Linux 5.4.0-54-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.13
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC2: jim 3040 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC1: jim 3040 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: jim 3040 F.... pulseaudio
CasperMD5CheckResult: skip
CurrentDesktop: GNOME
Date: Fri Dec 11 01:56:58 2020
InstallationDate: Installed on 2020-03-27 (259 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 19.04 "Disco Dingo" - Release amd64 (20190416)
MachineType: System manufacturer System Product Name
ProcFB: 0 amdgpudrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-5.4.0-54-generic root=UUID=1b434c2a-987e-4daf-bd3d-fa7d3e4b5049 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-5.4.0-54-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-5.4.0-54-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.187.6
RfKill:
 0: phy0: Wireless LAN
  Soft blocked: no
  Hard blocked: no
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 12/07/2018
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 0604
dmi.board.asset.tag: Default string
dmi.board.name: PRIME B450M-A
dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
dmi.board.version: Rev X.0x
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Default string
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: Default string
dmi.chassis.version: Default string
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvr0604:bd12/07/2018:svnSystemmanufacturer:pnSystemProductName:pvrSystemVersion:rvnASUSTeKCOMPUTERINC.:rnPRIMEB450M-A:rvrRevX.0x:cvnDefaultstring:ct3:cvrDefaultstring:
dmi.product.family: To be filled by O.E.M.
dmi.product.name: System Product Name
dmi.product.sku: SKU
dmi.product.version: System Version
dmi.sys.vendor: System manufacturer