Spellbreakers Ep. 146: Once Upon a Time in the Year 2000

Matt Trump marks the 25th anniversary of Bush v. Gore with a reflective, cultural deep dive into the year 2000 and the Supreme Court decision that ended one of the most contested elections in American history. Using personal memories, archival footage, and historical context, Matt revisits election night confusion, the infamous Florida recount, the butterfly ballot in Palm Beach County, and the legal mechanics that ultimately handed the presidency to George W. Bush. He weaves in the broader atmosphere of the era—the dot-com boom, media narratives, political naivety, and the sense of weightless optimism at the turn of the millennium—while connecting that moment to what followed in the years ahead. Rather than a narrow legal analysis, this episode focuses on cultural memory, perception, and how hindsight reshapes our understanding of pivotal events. A contemplative Spellbreakers episode that looks backward to better understand how the modern political landscape was formed.