val tagIds = postData._1 map (TagTable.newTag(_))
This line says that each element is tagcontained in the collection postData._1and calls TagTable.newTag(tag). Then it tagIdsis a set containing all the results of these calls.
val tagIds = for(tag <- postData._1) yield TagTable.newTag(_)
tag, postData._1, TagTable.newTag(_) ( x => TagTable.newTag(x)). tagIds , .
, . :
val tagIds = for(tag <- postData._1) yield TagTable.newTag(tag)