Kamala Harris co-signs Gen Z’s love of wired headphones

In an appearance on Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show to promote her upcoming memoir ‘107 Days’, Harris stated that she does not use wireless headphones anymore.

Harris made the statement while looking photos taken around the time Joe Biden had pulled out of the 2024 presidential race, when she said she had taken ‘up to 100 calls in a single day’ using wired headphones instead of Bluetooth earbuds.

She explains that her preference is rooted in security over style.

‘I know I’ve been teased about this, but I like these kinds of earpods that have wires because I served on the Senate Intelligence Committee,’ explained Harris.

‘I have been in classified briefings and I’m telling you, don’t be on the train using your earpods thinking someone can’t listen to your conversation. I’m telling you, [wired headsets] are a bit more secure.’

Though most of us probably don’t have to worry about the security issues posed by hackers listening in on what we’re listening to most of the time, the realization that we lack privacy and security is slightly sinister.

So how true is the claim Kamala Harris made?

Security analysts have revealed that there are indeed security flaws with many ‘widely used’ earbuds. They found such vulnerabilities in big brand name products sold by Sony, Bose, JBL and Marshall, which could hypothetically let anyone gain access and eavesdrop on calls.

This isn’t really groundbreaking news though. It just hasn’t been common knowledge. The UK’s Ministry of Justice has previously informed its employees that Bluetooth devices may not be safe enough for ‘Official-Sensitive or higher material’, and that these tech items can be used to track the wearer’s location.

In sum, high-profile individuals (politicians, billionaires, and maybe even celebrities) may want to think twice about taking private or professional calls via Bluetooth headphones. The rest of us are probably just fine.

Anyways, my assigned CIA agent should feel lucky to be blessed with a civilian subject that has such great taste in music, podcasts, and audiobooks.