It was meant to protect the independence of members of Congress from domination by the Executive branch, and to protect minorities in Congress from domination by the majority.
This had happened frequently in England.
Yes. I do however quibble over where the viewer of C-Span is.AFAIK the Constitution does not protect the ability of a Member of Congress to set up a printing press inside the building, libel people to his heart’s content, and scatter such infamous printed matter to the four winds outside the halls of Congress. And that is the direct analog of slandering someone when speaking into one of C-Span’s microphones.
It is a good point.
I want to see the Sullivan decision overturned.