Have you met Moo Deng the pygmy hippo? Seen the pictures of Pesto the penguin? Do you dabble in Drifter the cat? Then you might be one of millions of Americans who prefer reading about these delightful creatures over elections, assassinations, or the latest news on P. Diddy.

Moo Deng was the first of these internet darlings. Born three days before the first of two presidential assassination attempts, this baby pygmy hippo, whose name directly translates to “bouncy pork,” has captured the hearts of internet users and the minds of meme creators. Photos and videos of the two-and-a-half-month-old have turned Moo Deng into an internet megastar—and a welcome distraction from the grim national news cycle.

Then there’s Pesto the penguin. Born back in January, Pesto has grown to twice the size of his parents. The internet has fallen in love with this fat flippered phenomenon. At nine months, Pesto still sports his downy coat, making his large size even more noticeable—earning him nicknames like “chonky chick” and “fatty.” Pesto provides a welcome distraction from the 42 fatalities caused by exploding pagers in Lebanon last week.

And finally, Drifter the cat. Drifter is just a simple feline that got stuck in a sewer—but hey, the rule of threes made me toss him in the intro for balance. Still, some might be intrigued by a cat who spent nearly eight weeks trapped underground. At the very least, it’s a story more pleasant than the horrific details that continue to emerge about rapper P. Diddy and his "freak-offs."

Would these standalone animal stories capture the nation’s hearts if they weren’t juxtaposed with such a daunting and miserable news cycle? Perhaps. But it’s much more likely that these animals are being vaulted to internet fame as a welcome distraction in the face of news fatigue.

According to Pew Research Center surveys, about two-thirds of Americans (66%) feel worn out by the sheer volume of news. This isn’t just due to how readily available news is but the decision to cover such tragic and horrific issues.

Stories about Moo Deng, Pesto, and even that dimwit Drifter are stories we, as Americans, can get excited about. Hopefully, the clicks and attention these stories generate can shift some of the national focus away from hollow campaign promises, the horrific bloodshed in the Middle East, and how much lube was purchased by three time Grammy-winning sex pest P. Diddy—and instead, onto wholesome, obese baby animals with funny names.