A second Donald Trump administration appears likely to reshape much of the federal government, with sweeping changes on everything from immigration to health care and taxes. At Salem Reporter, our duty remains the same – to inform our readers and help make sense of what those changes will mean for ordinary people here in Salem. We won’t speculate on what the administration might do or try to read the tea leaves of federal appointments. Our focus will remain on local news and the many ways both federal policy and rhetoric play out in real life for people here. Our job isn’t to judge whether federal choices are good or bad. Our job is to translate the often arcane language of Washington, D.C., in ways that make choices and their impacts understandable. Let me share key areas we’ll be watching closely. High on the list of Trump’s plans is his promise to initiate the largest mass deportation in the history of the country. Oregon and the Salem area have a large population of immigrants here without legal status, many working in agriculture and construction. Any significant deportation will have far-reaching impacts on local families, key industries in Salem, and our local schools, which educate many children of immigrants. We’ll also be alert to ways in which rhetoric from the White House is felt in Salem’s immigrant community. There are indications that there is unease even among those here with legal documentation. Health care is another topic we’ll keep a close eye on. With Republican majorities in both houses of Congress, the GOP is poised to make good on its long promise to repeal or significantly change the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. That could change health care for the Oregonians who rely on federal subsidies to buy individual insurance plans, as well as the 1.4 million Oregonians currently insured through Oregon Health Plan, the state’s Medicaid program. The state receives most of its funding for that from the federal government. Trump has also promised high tariffs – taxes paid by companies importing goods – particularly on imports from China, adding to costs for local businesses and consumers. One of the more subtle ways federal policy impacts cities and counties is through federal appropriations. Programs serving homeless Salemites or retrofitting local roads are often funded via federal grants. The amount of money coming in, and the priorities behind it, tend to shift with each administration. The new president has already announced a new Department of Government Efficiency. The aim, his team said, is to cut federal payrolls and cut federal spending. That could mean changes in services Salem people get – and those employed by federal agencies in the area. Keeping an eye on all this means staying in close touch with policymakers, business leaders, labor groups, social service agencies and more.  Our team is small and we rely on our readers to let us know what’s going on in your lives. If your business or household is already seeing changes from the outcome of the election, we’d like to know. If your company or agency is making changes ahead of the new administration, we’d like to know that as well. I welcome your ideas on how best to bring meaningful reports on all of this to you and other readers. What concerns you? What do you support of plans you’ve heard? What appears confusing that maybe we can clarify? This is shaping up as a remarkable time for the country – and for Salem. With your help, we can chronicle it all. Share your thoughts and questions with me at [email protected]. Contact reporter Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241. A MOMENT MORE, PLEASE– If you found this story useful, consider subscribing to Salem Reporter if you don’t already. Work such as this, done by local professionals, depends on community support from subscribers. Please take a moment and sign up now – easy and secure: SUBSCRIBE. The post EDITOR’S NOTE: Salem Reporter’s plans to cover local impacts of a second Trump term appeared first on Salem Reporter.