Spotify Playlists of Power Players: Capitol to Silicon Valley Grooves
Kai Montgomery here, grumpily reporting on what happens when power meets playlists. Look, I don’t want to be the one to point out the obvious, but it seems the people running the country have Spotify accounts just like the rest of us. A new project called Panama Playlists has been quietly tracking the public streams of politicians and tech executives for over a year, and the findings published Wednesday are nothing if not eye-opening.
Millennial Veep JD Vance kicks off his day with a “Making Dinner” playlist featuring Justin Bieber’s “One Time” and the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way.” But don’t assume he’s all bubblegum pop. Vance also rocks out to Death Cab for Cutie on a list named “Gold On the Ceiling,” a nod to his Ohio roots and the Black Keys. According to the anonymous sleuth behind Panama Playlists, the account is verified by real-name usage and cross-referenced partnerships.
Former President Trump may have belted out “YMCA” at rallies, but the site shows his public Spotify history favors that 1978 Village People classic as his top jam. Attorney General Pam Bondi balances the hot and cold with Nelly’s Y2K smash “Hot in Herre” and Foreigner’s arena-filler “Cold as Ice,” a clever playlist entry titled “Pam” that reportedly links to her partner John Wakefield’s shared list, according to internal sleuthing shared with The Post.
On the tech side, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman isn’t immune to a little Missy Elliott. His “My Shazam Tracks” divulge heavy rotation for “Get Ur Freak On” after he wraps up AI strategy sessions. And while he’s busy building data fortresses, House Speaker Mike Johnson switches from presiding over lawmakers to mellowing out with New Age piano by David Tolk, then cranking up ’80s yacht rock with Simple Minds’ “Don’t You Forget About Me” on Pandora.
Meanwhile, Vance’s softer side emerges in Sheryl Crow’s “Strong Enough” and Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” Beloved “TODAY” weatherman Al Roker streams Elton John’s “Philadelphia Freedom” a staggering 151 times, followed by “Are You Ready for Love” at 75 plays, per his public Spotify stats.
In the West Wing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reportedly tops her “Baby Shower” playlist with Beyonce’s girl-power anthem “Run the World (Girls),” putting her in sync with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who lists “Diva” and “Love On Top” on his “Galentine’s” mix. And don’t miss President Trump’s undersecretary pick Jacob Helberg, who embraces Gen Z flavors like Chappell Roan and Charli XCX, proving political appointees have eclectic tastes.
The anonymous poster insists no streaming service is involved and notes that all Spotify playlists are public by default. Factor in real-name verification and cross-account clues, and these profiles seem bulletproof. So next time you wonder if power and prestige come with a secret soundtrack, the answer is a resounding yes.
And that, dear reader, is why we can’t have secret playlists.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and Panama Playlists, New York Post, Spotify
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
