Well...
There are 3 meaning
1st If you have a problem, you're not able to solve it, so you give this problem to someone solve.
Example: My mom gave me the hot potato, i must to wash the dishes (the problem is wash the dishes)
2nd Children's game called hot potato
3rd Also use to describe a bored issue. problem that no one wanna talk about the subject.
(Mexican peoples, are still crossing the USA border, its being a hot potato issue)