Free Speech Crisis and Bangladeshi Bloggers Yesterday, masked men armed with machetes hacked a blogger to death in Sylhet. Three secular or atheist bloggers have been murdered recently in Bangladesh — a majority Muslim country. It sounds like it's far away, but the incidents are being seen as part of a worldwide pattern of attacks on free speech. We hear more from Madeline Earp, a researcher at Freedom House , which focuses on journalism and online activism in Asia, and from George Packer, a staff writer for the New Yorker .  His article, " Mute Button: The Free Speech Crisis ," appeared last month. Photo:  Anonymous Account

The Selective Recovery and a Shrinking Middle Class Wall Street is setting records never imagined before, and the housing market is on the rise. Does that mean the Great Recession is over? Not according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis , which says average American households have recovered just 45% of the wealth they lost. Others say the reality of two Americas has crushed faith in stabilizing institutions, including farms, factories, public schools and the political system. We hear what it feels like to be on the losing end and look for signs of a better future.

Afghanistan, the New Vietnam? President Obama kicks off a series of meetings tomorrow with the National Security Council about strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Will Obama agree to the military's request for a troop surge? What effect will the dispute over Afghanistan's recent presidential election have on US policy? As American public support for the war in Afghanistan declines, will the President be more likely to pay attention to anti-war activists than his predecessor did? Will Afghanistan become Obama's Vietnam?

Should Barack Obama Go Big or Go Cautious? Barack Obama made a lot of promises during the campaign, then came the crisis in the economy. Can Obama fix the economy and spend big money on healthcare, education, infrastructure and energy independence, all at the same time? One school of would-be advisors says, yes he can -- it's time for bold action, just like it was for Franklin Delano Roosevelt during the Great Depression. But others counsel against what they call "over-reaching," until after the economy's back on track. As debate rages over available courses of action, does Obama have the luxury to think big? Can he afford not to?

Troop Withdrawal and Campaign Promises John McCain 's been consistent in claiming he won't draw down troops in Iraq until "victory" is guaranteed, whenever that might happen. Barack Obama says he's been consistent too, but Republicans claim it's a flip-flop when he says his sixteen-month timeline depends on Iraqi stability. With reports that violence is decreasing, is Obama revising his plan?  Was McCain right about the surge?  Is Iraq's Shiite-dominated government making peace with Sunni insurgents, or could violence resume and upset the strategies of both candidates?