Your debate primer: Immigration.

It's a topic we haven't heard much about in the last couple of weeks. But not tonight. The remaining 4 GOP contenders are in Arizona, and it's sure to come up in this latest debate.  Rick Santorum spent part of this week playing up his immigrant roots... minutes after meeting with Joe Arpaio, the controversial Sheriff known for targeting and arresting Latinos, he believes are illegals. (The same sheriff under investigation for 'unconstitutional policing')

We asked our panel where the candidates really stand on this issue - and how it will play in a primary, and how it will play in a general election.

Presidential candidates Ron Paul and Mitt Romney make quite the pairing... we dusted off some old VHS cassettes and found some praise between the two while on the campaign trail. Could this be the making of a beautiful friendship?

We asked Ron Paul's National Campaign Chair Jesse Benton if  — despite their many, many differences — Ron Paul supporters would consider going to Mitt Romney if Paul is not the nominee.

Or could it all be a ploy to raise the national standing of Rand Paul?

Yesterday the Dow Jones Industrial Average cracked the 13,000 mark, the first time since the financial crisis.  But on the trail, a strange thing happened.  Social issues largely supplanted talk of what the polls say is the number 1 issue: jobs and the economy.  A lot of Republicans say that bringing social issues to the forefront is a mistake, and a distraction.  Tonight, it's up to the debate moderators to balance the topics that will draw lines among the 4 candidates.  New NBC News-Marist poll numbers show that Michigan is deadlocked.  Will tonight's debate seal the fate of Mitt Romney or Rick Santorum?

Analysis from today's panel today at noon ET.

PANEL

Eric Bates, Editor, Rolling Stone

Kelefa Sanneh, The New Yorker

Maggie Haberman, POLITICO (@maggiepolitico)

Hugo Lindgren, Editor, The New York Times Magazine (@hugolindgren)

GUEST

Jesse Benton, Ron Paul Campaign

Today's YouTube Politics clip might not seem political - but take and it (sort of) makes sense.

Magid CPI: Deaths of journalists in Syria highlight dangers; Police search for motive after 5 killed at Ga. spa; Atomic agency admits failure of latest visit to Iran by inspectors 

Google: lent; ash wednesday; mardi gras 

Twitter: Homs; Syria; #AshWednesday

YouTube Politics: Chevrolet Volt Gun Rack Installation 

Billboard (Hot 100): Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Kelly Clarkson; Set Fire To The Rain - Adele; We Are Young - fun. Featuring Janelle Monae

Billboard (Ringtones): Sexy And I Know It - LMFAO; Red Solo Cup - Toby Keith; Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Kelly Clarkson

By Richard Wolffe

Richard Wolffe is an MSNBC Political Analyst and frequent NOWist

What is today's most damaging number for Mitt Romney as he continues to scratch and scrape for his party's presidential nomination?

Is it the 10 point gap between the supposed frontrunner and the insurgent Rick Santorum in the latest national Gallup poll? When you're stuck at 26 per cent, as Romney is, a 10-point deficit looks like a lot of ground to make up just a couple of weeks away from Super Tuesday.

Or is it the multiple of two and a half?

Barak Goodman, writer and director of the new PBS documentary "Clinton," spoke to us about Bill Clinton's legacy and his leadership in the White House. Interesting to hear how important and consistent Hillary Clinton was during his Presidency. Goodman says she lifted him up during his weakest moments and was a constant savior.

Actress, comedienne, writer and Washington wife, Ali Wentworth, discusses her new book, "Ali in Wonderland," and the contrast  between the political climate in the D.C. she grew up in and the D.C. that exists now.

Great anecdotes about Kissinger in a swimming pool and tap dancing (!).

After the jump... a classic Ali scene. Anyone remember Schmoopie?

Today on the show we'll talk about the latest controversy surrounding frontrunner Rick Santorum and the new fundraising numbers out this morning.  We've also got some key guests.

Comedienne and actress Ali Wentworth will join the show to talk about the DC of today and the one she grew up in.  (Yesterday on the show it was argued that money is at the heart of the problems of discourse in the Capitol).

We'll then talk to Barak Goodman, the writer/director of the PBS documentary "Clinton" that aired last night.  It's created quite a bit of buzz for fascinating new details on the 42nd President.

And finally, Tom Goldstein from SCOTUSBLOG.com, a respected blog chronicling the Supreme Court, joins us with a post suggesting that Ruth Bader Ginsburg will retire in 2015.  That, it should be said, assumes President Obama wins a second term.

They should all be fascinating discussions - we hope you'll join us at noon ET.

PANEL

Robert Traynham, MSNBC Contributor (@roberttraynham)

Ana Marie Cox, The Guardian (@anamariecox)

Steve Kornacki, Salon.com (@stevekornacki)

Richard Wolffe, MSNBC Political Analyst (@richardwolffedc)

GUEST

Ali Wentworth, Author, “Ali in Wonderland”

Barak Goodman, Writer/Director, “Clinton”

Tom Goldstein, SCOTUSBLOG.com

Big news overseas this morning as a massive move is made to save Greece.  But will it work?  If it doesn't, it could change the #2012 race right when it really matters.

Magid CPI: Rick Santorum risks alienating voters with his focus on faith; Eurozone approves bailout of Greece; Iran & Oil: India ships will lose insurance due to Iran sanctions, may look to China 

Google: fat tuesday; gas prices; stephen colbert 

Twitter: #FatTuesday; Lent; Rihanna and Chris Brown

YouTube Politics: The Mutt Romney Blues 

Billboard (Hot 100): Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Kelly Clarkson; Set Fire To The Rain - Adele; We Are Young - fun. Featuring Janelle Monae

Billboard (Ringtones): Sexy And I Know It - LMFAO; Red Solo Cup - Toby Keith; Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Kelly Clarkson

Happy President's Day (yes, NOW is ON today).

Magid CPI: ESPN fires one over Lin incident; Authorities: Wash. avalanche swept 4 experienced skiers far down mountain; Santorum riding high on social division 

Google: elizabeth smart; presidents day; fat tuesday

Twitter: Happy Presidents Day; Good Monday; #LiesPeopleAlwaysTell

YouTube Politics: Santorum: Satan is Systematically Destroying America (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=n4jopm7hYFk)

Billboard (Hot 100): Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Kelly Clarkson; Set Fire To The Rain - Adele; We Are Young - fun. Featuring Janelle Monae

Billboard (Ringtones): Sexy And I Know It - LMFAO; Red Solo Cup - Toby Keith; Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Kelly Clarkson

NYTimes Best Sellers (Fiction): Kill Shot, by Vince Flynn; Catch Me, by Lisa Gardner; Defending Jacob, by William Landay

NYTimes Best Sellers (Nonfiction): Once Upon A Secret, by Mimi Alford; Ameritopia, by Mark R. Levin; Hilarity Ensues, by Tucker Max

Democrats, Republicans, candidates and incumbents -- who's Lin it to win it?  We look back at the week and ask, What Just Happened?!

How one comment on MSNBC yesterday has turned into today's front page story. We're probably guessing that Rick Santorum wishes Foster Friess would put an asprin between his lips and keep quiet!

Santorum's biggest finacial backer, Friess, told Andrea Mitchell that “back in my days, they used Bayer aspirin for contraception. The gals put it between their knees, and it wasn’t that costly.”

And now that "joke", which we're guessing is about abstinence (?), has put the candidate on the defensive. Even Senators are speaking out about it.

We spoke with Santorum Campaign Communications Director, Hogan Gidley, about the controversy. He says that even though Rick and Foster are friends, they don't have to agree on everything. Watch the interview and tell us what you think!

There's no escaping it - the 2012 race has all eyes on Rick Santorum, and with that comes increasing scrutiny.  He put out 4 years of tax returns to little fanfare, and his trailblazing hasn't produced any major gaffes.  Instead, operatives against the Santorum campaign are digging through Santorum's past, trying to paint the picture of a deep conservative (one that is against contraception, for example) unelectable when paired against President Obama.  We'll see how that works out.

Plus: new reporting, with amazing pictures, of the counterterrorism campaign in the Middle East.  And of course, because it's Friday - What Just Happened?!

PANEL

Phil Musser, Fmr. Pawlenty Sr. Adviser (@pmusser)

Glenn Thrush, POLITICO (@glennthrush)

Becky Quick, CNBC (@beckyquickcnbc)

Sam Stein, The Huffington Post (@samsteinhp)

GUESTS

Hogan Gidley, Santorum National Communications Dir. (@jhogangidley)

Jeremy Scahill, The Nation (@jeremyscahill)

It's a three-day weekend (well, not for the staff here at NOW - we'll be on Monday - but I digress), and that's one of the standout trends this AM.

Magid CPI: NY Times correspondent Anthony Shadid, 43, dies of apparent asthma attack; US Agent Killed After Shooting Colleague; Apple Unleashes Mountain Lion, Syncing Mac, iPad & Apple TV 

Google: stephen colbert; presidents day; daytona 500 

Twitter: #HonestyNight; Music is FREEDOM; Anthony Shadid

YouTube Politics: Time To Choose- The Threat Within (:60) 

Billboard (Hot 100): Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Kelly Clarkson; Set Fire To The Rain - Adele; We Are Young - fun. Featuring Janelle Monae

Billboard (Ringtones): Sexy And I Know It - LMFAO; Red Solo Cup - Toby Keith; Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Kelly Clarkson