Rich and powerful interests sometimes file lawsuits against non-profits or media organizations simply for the sake of intimidating them. These suits are often without merit, but prove costly to the entity being sued. Comedian and satirist John Oliver recently found his show at the receiving end of such a case, and used the situation to shed light on an anti-free-speech tactic that is no laughing matter.

On this week’s edition of Beat The Press, Emily Rooney was joined by former White House correspondent Dan Lothian; Jennifer McKim of the New England Center for Investigative Reporting at WGBH News; Dan Kennedy of Northeastern University; and Callie Crossley of WGBH News.