“Politics, Ideas & Civic Life in Massachusetts” has been the tagline describing the focus of CommonWealth’s coverage since the magazine was launched 22 years ago. We didn’t say it explicitly, but the goal also was to promote a civil civic life here. A robust exchange of views and ideas, argued vigorously but respectfully, seemed then like an essential ingredient to maintaining a healthy body politic — and it still does today.

With today’s episode of The Codcast, two smart voices — from either side of the partisan divide — are joining that effort. Jennifer Nassour, the former chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party, and Jesse Mermell, who served as communications director to Gov. Deval Patrick, plan to host regular installments of The Codcast, exploring issues, interviewing guests, and debating each other. Nassour is also a member of the board of MassINC, the corporate parent of CommonWealth.

The two women are particularly mindful of the challenge of engaging in civil discourse in what Nassour calls “this crazy political climate of 2018.” The goal of the podcasts, they say, is to “disagree agreeably.”