Source: Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
“The First Amendment was born out of colonial attempts to silence the press with libel laws. Yet more than two centuries later, the wealthy and powerful still use the legal system to bully critics into submission through meritless defamation lawsuits — also known as strategic lawsuits against public participation, or SLAPPs. … FIRE has defended multiple speakers against SLAPPs and SLAPP threats. One of our clients, Iowa pollster J. Ann Selzer, was sued by President Donald Trump for ‘election interference’ and violations of the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act after her 2024 pre-election poll showed Kamala Harris leading Trump by three points — despite Trump ultimately carrying the state by more than 13. In fact, a federal court just dismissed a copycat lawsuit filed against Selzer by a subscriber to The Des Moines Register, styled as a class action, which FIRE also defended.” (11/07/25)
https://www.thefire.org/news/anti-slapp-laws-protect-davids-being-silenced-goliaths