US election: how Florida 2000 nearly broke US politics – and why it’s crucial in 2020

It was 249 v 246 on election night and it all came down to one state: Florida.

The networks said Al Gore had won it, then it was too close to call, then George W. Bush had won it – before rowing back once more.

The Florida recount saw American democracy tested to the limits, showing an electoral college and popular vote split, leaving the parties and the country divided for years to come.

With the 2020 election days away and mail-in ballot rules being debated in court, will there be another contested result this year?

We speak to George W. Bush’s trial lawyer, Barry Richard, along with The Washington Post’s Karen Tumulty and Protect Democracy’s Jon Steinman.