A tense political moment: McCarthy laughs as ouster is decided

An inside look at the House chamber during the unprecedented, bipartisan vote to remove the speaker

A grim-faced Kevin McCarthy clenched the armrest of his seat in the House chamber as he was ousted from the speakership on Tuesday, the knuckles of his right hand turning whiter with every vote that assured he would lose the gavel in a move without precedent in modern US history.

The person who had orchestrated his removal, the far-right Republican congressman Matt Gaetz, was seated about 20 feet behind him, at times leaning forward in anticipation and apparent excitement.