Stossel still gets anxious

Stephen Rodrick of New York Magazine profiled John Stossel of the Fox Business Network and discovered that he still gets anxious right before going on the air.

Rodrick writes, “Stossel grew up outside Chicago, the son of German immigrants. ‘My mother made it clear to me that no one was going to take care of me but myself,’ he says with a sad smile. ‘She told me, ‘Work hard, or you’re going to freeze in the dark.’ I don’t recommend that kind of parenting. It made me work hard, but I’m an anxious, insecure person.’

“Stossel is ushered onto the set and watches a clip where he’s dressed up as a cop, complete with billy club and reflective sunglasses. ‘I’ll tell you where your kids can go to school,’ he intones onscreen. ‘I’m the airline police, the baseball police. Even the intern police.’ It goes well, and Stossel exhales as he walks off the set. ‘I’m glad that’s over.’

“He’s introduced to a shy new intern named Jackie. ‘Now the government says you can’t have unpaid interns, that it’s exploitation. Can you believe that? I built my career on unpaid interns! My staff is almost all former interns. What ever happened to two adults entering an agreement together?'”

Read more here.