> Ok. It’s not really a question. The ‘is that ok’ isn’t really seeking permission; it’s giving the candidate a few seconds to prepare for what’s coming.

The first rule for a manager when asking if someone is ready to hear feedback is accepting a no[1].

Posing it as a question when it isn't, immediately negates the validity of what follows. It says, "I'm not taking you input as worthy of consideration," and everything that follows it is hinged on this impotency.

If you're not willing to accept someone's input in the form of a 'no,' it's inconceivable that you'd expect others to take yours.

1. The 'shot across the bow' scenario doesn't apply to interviews - there's no chain of command.

Yup, completely agree. Even if you were prepared to accept a "no", asking the question is not showing awareness of the power asymmetry here- the interviewee may feel they can't say "no" because they want the job and the interviewer presumably has some power to affect whether or not that happens.

TFA makes it pretty clear this is an ego/status thing on the part of the author.