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.
(..) we'll all be happy. All right? Night. He took the bait? Like shooting fish in a barrel. Good work. Where you going? I just might take your advice. Well, the tides are turning. Are (..)2011 TvShow: Suits Title: Rules of the Game Season: 1 Episode 11