Kerry to Travel to Antarctica, State Dept Grilled Over Why November 4, 2016 4:55 pm After announcing that Secretary of State John Kerry will be traveling to Antarctica, State Department spokesman John Kirby was grilled over why Kerry was traveling there and the trip’s cost to taxpayers. Kerry will travel to a research station at the South Pole in a trip that begins Monday. Kirby said the foreign minister of New Zealand would not be accompanying Kerry when asked by reporters. Flights to the South Pole normally stop in New Zealand first. Reporters then asked what the diplomatic purpose of...