[onyx]

I seem to recall he once interrupted a really rude
reporter (Terry Moron I think) by asking "you have
a question in there somewhere?"

For the life in me,
I know I couldn't endure their hostility.

[Travis McGee]

That's better than nothing, but not enough. He's got to make them lose their turn, if their agenda is to speechify and embarrass him. "Terry, if you're not ready, I'll move on. Jill, do you have a question today?"

That would stop them short.