At the beginning of our new podcast, Mona Charen and I have a guest: Greg Lukianoff, an expert on freedom of speech, particularly on campus. An expert and an activist, a talker and a doer. That type is invaluable.

Mona and I then tackle a variety of pressing issues — and some not so pressing. Ebola is. Mona is tired of being told by the government what to think. We’re supposed to panic over global warming: Disaster is upon us. But we’re supposed to be cool, calm, and collected about Ebola, which is fine. But can’t we just have the facts, and think for ourselves? That’s Mona’s point, and a classically Charenesque point it is.

We talk about several cultural issues, including the stigmatization of smoking. Of all the things that might be stigmatized, why did they — you know, “they” — choose smoking? You remember the classic NR line: Massachusetts had banned smoking by public employees, even in their own homes, as I recall, and, near the same time, the legislature had repealed a law against bestiality. NR opined — I am going from memory — “Michael Dukakis desires a state in which you can do whatever you want with a camel [Camel] except smoke one.”

Moving on — but not really: An opera company in Australia recently canceled Carmen because it “promotes smoking.” (Don José stabs Carmen to death in the end, but never mind. Smoking is the unstageable act.) Naturally, the music we go out on is the Smokers’ Chorus. (In this music, Bizet mimics the sight of smoke curling up into the air. Ingenious.)