The excessive coverage of the scandal signals that the news media may have finally hit/reached 'the bottom of the barrel'.
Salaries in the industry are scraping/hitting 'the bottom of the barrel'. [=salaries in the industry are very low]
Several people have lost their jobs recently, so the office isn't exactly a 'barrel of laughs' these days.
(..) ♪ I don't like you anymore ♪ ♪ You'll be sorry when you see me ♪ ♪ Sliding down our cellar door. ♪ Don't stop. ♪ You can't holler down our rain barrel ♪ ♪ You can't climb our apple tree ♪ ♪ I don't want to play in your yard ♪ ♪ If you won't be good to me. ♪ Where'd you get this? (..)2014 TvShow: The Knick Title: The Golden Lotus Season: 1 Episode 9