“Does anyone know if tossing it was based on merit or a technicality so it can be refiled?”
I don’t think it can be refiled; but it can be appealed.
(But imho since the WP is part of the deep state, no suit against it has a chance; the Post will always find friendly federal judges to toss it out. Remember what happened to the Duke lacrosse team’s lawsuits...)
Even a lost lawsuit can be a consciousness raiser.
The federal court case again the Washington Post was dismissed on the merits.
I thought I saw where the case was appealed.