Musical Tastes of Public Figures Revealed

Vice President JD Vance enjoys “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys, while White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt favors Beyoncé’s “Run the World (Girls).” Interestingly, some well-known politicians also have a soft spot for Nelly’s “Hot in Herre.”

This information comes from Panama playlist, a new site that’s set to launch quietly on Wednesday. The site claims to uncover the music preferences of various public figures.

“I discovered actual Spotify accounts belonging to celebrities, politicians, and journalists. Many use their real names. I’ve played detective and can say with some confidence that it’s accurate,” the site’s creator noted.

The researchers involved have reportedly monitored these accounts over several months, increasing their confidence in the authenticity of the playlists.

“I feel assured about the identification of individuals based on numerous signals. For instance, take Pam Bondy—her old playlist titled ‘John’ and a shared playlist with someone named ‘John Wakefield’ linked to her partner,” they explained.

The site also highlighted Karoline Leavitt’s profile, which includes a playlist called “Baby Shower,” created shortly before the birth of her child. The creator emphasized that the information collected is purely public.

This whole endeavor feels like a lighthearted summer project, offering a glimpse into the quirky musical preferences of America’s elite.

“Did you know about the Panama Papers? They publicly exposed offshore accounts. This is a fun twist on that,” the site wrote.

JD Vance

Vice President JD Vance’s playlists include “I Want It That Way” and Justin Bieber’s “One Time,” both associated with a playlist for cooking. It seems millennials are also notably fond of pop-punk.

Sam Bankman-Fried

Sam Bankman-Fried, the FTX entrepreneur, has three public playlists titled “wrap,” “soft,” and “noisy.” His selections include songs by Eminem and Death Cab for Cutie, among others.

Karoline Leavitt

Leavitt’s playlists feature Beyoncé’s “Run the World (Girls)” alongside classics like “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”

Mike Johnson

House Speaker Mike Johnson enjoys a variety of music, including the “Parachute” theme from “Air Force One” and tracks by Bryan Adams and Enya.

Taylor Lorenz

Journalist Taylor Lorenz has playlists that range from “Aged Millennial College Reager TBT” to “Break-Up Songs,” with favorites like “Romeo and Juliet.”

Pam Bondy

Pam Bondy’s playlist, simply called “Pam,” features upbeat tracks like Nelly’s “Hot in Herre” and songs by Selena Gomez and King & Country.

Sam Altman

OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman’s playlist, “My Shazam Truck,” includes well-known hits like Missy Elliott’s “Get Ur Freak On.”

Rashida Tlaib

Representative Rashida Tlaib has added Ed Sheeran’s “I’m A Mess” to her playlist titled “I’m A Mess in Love.”

Brian Armstrong

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has a playlist named “repeat,” featuring songs he’s played numerous times.

Ron DeSantis

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is a fan of classic rock, with a playlist that includes favorites like Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” and the Charlie Daniels Band’s “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”