No, it's not. It's simply defining how they operate. Saying that NE is good at beating slander lawsuits isn't defending them, it's just stating fact (does that make what they print good or true? NOPE!). If they weren't good at this kind of thing they would have been sued into oblivion by now. You can't find many instances where they actually lose a suit and get sued. There was a case in the eighties were someone beat them in a lawsuit but the person bringing the slander suit had to prove actual malice. And btw, I'm not a Trump fan (however if he gets the nomination I guess I'll vote for him).
You are right that NE skirts the libel laws. Which is even more reason no one with a whit of integrity should go along with their libeling good people and particularly being close associates.
Happy to hear I read you wrong.
As it now seems, the last friend Trump NOW wants is NE.
Thankfully his malleolus and untrue bashing of a good man, Cruz is backfiring with voters opening their eyes to the real Trump.