The "What about Kansas" joke is a play on words that uses the names of U.S. states to set up a pun. The joke involves a conversation between two friends, where one friend mentions Kentucky, and the other friend responds with "What about Kansas?". The joke is a bait to lure the listener into thinking that there is a pun involving the state of Kansas, but in reality, there is no pun. The joke is simply a way to play with the listeners expectations and sense of humor.

The joke gained popularity on social media platforms like Reddit, where users discussed the joke and its meaning. There are also videos on YouTube that explain the joke and its origins.