Regional Governments Duel Over YouTuber’s Allegiances; New Political Party ‘Influencers United’ Gains Traction

Columbus, OH – A simmering feud among regional governments escalated yesterday after YouTube personality Carter Lane, known online as “CarterDabbles,” changed his official profile location from Topeka, Kansas to Dayton, Ohio. State authorities and municipal councils alike have now entered open negotiations—and, in several cases, heated duels—over the 23-year-old vlogger’s declared allegiances.

Lane’s channel, which features daily commentary on sandwich artistry and intermittent ukulele lessons, recently surpassed 400,000 subscribers. According to a joint statement from the Ohio Department of Digital Affairs and the Kansas Office of Internet Branding, “possession” of Lane’s digital loyalty is projected to drive annual boosts of up to 2.6% in local Insta-commerce and at least three new food delivery franchises per quarter. “These influencers are strategic assets, not mere citizens,” said Dr. Leah Tidwell, Chair of the Midwest Content Economist Consortium, “so regional identity disputes are only to be expected in a competitive market.”

Officials in both states convened emergency summits this week to establish jurisdiction over Lane’s online presence. Ohio’s governor, Jordan Buckley, declared part of his home office a “YouTuber Sanctuary Zone,” while Kansas’s Attorney General filed an injunction demanding Lane revert his bio location within 72 hours. Lane was briefly served two conflicting subpoenas, both delivered by separate teams of drones. A spokesperson for the Federal Internet Boundary Board noted that, pending further review, Lane is temporarily forbidden from filming within 300 miles of any border.

The situation has intensified with the emergence of a new political party, Influencers United (IU), which pledges to “prioritize the algorithmic well-being of digital citizens.” IU’s roster now includes several ranking TikTokers, three retrofitted Vine personalities, and one prominent botnet. Party founder and beauty vlogger Siella Fae called it “democracy for those who can monetize democracy,” and estimates that IU could control 12% of the House of E-Representatives by next quarter. Kansas officials accused the party of “platform gerrymandering” and threatened to raise engagement literacy requirements for all minors.

Meanwhile, coordination between the parties has resulted in a confusing policy landscape: Dayton’s Chamber of Commerce has announced an annual tax rebate denominated in follows, while Topeka has imposed a 15% hashtag tithe. YouTuber Lane, for his part, was last seen livestreaming his somber march across a virtual stateline, accompanied by four identical food trucks and an official from the Department of Digital Arbitration.

As the dispute continues, experts predict further interstate instability and at least one additional TikTok-led secession in the region. “Ultimately,” Dr. Tidwell remarked, “we may need to redraw our maps based on follower density rather than outdated concepts like ‘address’ or ‘birthplace.’” For now, all parties acknowledge that allegiance remains fluid, and, according to Lane’s latest unboxing video, occasionally subject to corporate sponsorship.