With the current makeup of the Supreme Court, he will win.

Based on what statements by what present justices? Times v. Sullivan was a unanimous decision. I doubt it's going anywhere. (And the Justice Department has no way to attack libel law.)

It's wrong to think that the conservatives on the Court as partisan hacks. They may be ideologues, but they were picked for their beliefs, not their fealty to the Republican party.

But I don't read all their opinions. Maybe you saw one where they questioned the current law. A citation would be helpful.

DeSantis went to Harvard Law school. I don't think he believes the Court will overrule Times v. Sullivan, and, because it would take Fox News Prime Time off the air, I don't think he'll even try. This is just populist pandering. Don't rise to the bait.