The XX Factor

We’re Talking About: Tea Party Candidates, Female Doctorates, and Oprah’s Last Season

- Victories in Republican primaries on Tuesday by Tea Party-backed candidates such as Christine O’Donnell may complicate Republican efforts to gain control of Congress. [ New York Times ]

-Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard was sworn in today as the new head of a shaky coalition government. [ Telegraph ]

- Convicted killer Teresa Lewis is pleading for her life as her execution date in Virginia draws near. [ Washington Post ]

- For the first time ever, more women than men in the United States received doctoral degrees last year. [ Washington Post ]

-To mark the first episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show ‘s final season, the talk show host gave her audience a trip to Australia . And caused a total meltdown as a result. [ Jezebel ]

Photograph of Oprah Winfrey by vargas2040 for Wikimedia Commons.