This week on The Confab: World -- and local -- disasters. Why Haitians must "watch the people with the guns and the people with the briefcases, too." Plus, Obama -- a year later. What went wrong in Massachusetts? And why does the revolution stop at the White House? Join The Root's managing editor Joel Dreyfuss as he talks with senior culture writer Teresa Wiltz, Washington reporter Dayo Olopade and Washington Post editor Robert Pierre.

* Podcast production by Abdullah Rufus.

* Podcast theme music by Timothy Morrison.

It’s time to replace the piecemeal industry of misery with a development plan that will make a real difference.

This week on The Confab: Why is Haiti so unlucky? How has new media impacted earthquake relief efforts? And, will someone tell Pat Robertson to please shut up? Plus, the ever-evolving state of race? How possible is it to have a productive discussion. Join The Root's media and culture critic Natalie Hopkinson as she talks with managing editor Joel Dreyfuss, Jesse Washington of the Associated Press, Natalie Y. Moore from Chicago Public Radio and Racialicious' Latoya Peterson.

* Podcast production by Abdullah Rufus.

* Podcast theme music by Timothy Morrison.

Buck the colonial world order, and the powers that be won’t soon forget.