News Anchor Breaks Down in Tears Over Prize-Winning Dog in Hilarious On-Air Moment – AOL

NEED TO KNOW

• Fox 5 anchors Alex Whittler and Marquise Meda couldn’t contain their laughter over Bolt’s expressive photos

• Bolt, a 3-year-old German shorthaired pointer, won TSA’s Cutest Canine contest for 2026 through public voting

• Bolt’s handler praised the dog’s quirky personality and dedication, calling working with him an “adventure”

One prize-winning pup left a local Atlanta news anchor in tears during a live broadcast on Thursday, Aug. 27. 

Fox 5 anchor Alex Whittler and meteorologist Marquise Meda’s report on the TSA naming its cutest canine of 2026 sparked a laughing fit for the pair when images of the winner were shown. 

The giggle-inducing photos featured Bolt, a wide-eyed, 3-year-old German shorthaired pointer who works at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).

“This picture really takes me out,” Whittler said during the broadcast through laughs. 

As the control room switched to another photo of Bolt and his bug-eyed expression, Whittler struggled to make it through the segment, saying, “Marquise, please!” as Meda began loudly laughing alongside her. 

“Blink if you need help!” Marquise quipped of Bolt’s overly alert expression. 

Whittler kept trying to make it through the broadcast, but couldn’t contain her giggles. 

“Oh my gosh, this has not happened in a minute. I don’t know if I can finish,” Whittler said. “This is a real tear. Please just do the final weather.” 

Bolt was the competition’s eighth winner since the TSA started the contest in 2019. He joins three other German shorthaired pointer winners through the years. 

His win was hard-earned as the traveling public voted on their picks for the cutest pup, with Bolt getting the crown.

Bolt’s handler, Daphne Wang, said in her press release from the TSA that the dog is a hard worker with a silly side. 

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“I am ecstatic for Bolt,” Wang said. “He is such a character and a hard-working little guy. He absolutely loves his job and coming to work. I am so happy he gets to show the world his quirky personality.” 

Calling working alongside the dog “an adventure,” Wang said, “There is nothing ordinary about him. He works hard and plays even harder. He is always in working mode, even at home. He is never short on energy and is always 1,000% excited to go to work.”

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