Actor plans to assist with friend Sean Penn's earthquake relief efforts.

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.