The New York Times Magazine spends most of its time deconstructing politics, science, culture and society in a way that seems designed to induce terminal bouts of torpidity.

But Sunday’s New York Times Magazine cover was different:

The cover story tells how, in 2005, the British tabloid News of the World hacked into the voice mail of royal family members (specifically Princes William and Harry), members of Parliament, soccer stars, and assorted luminaries like supermodel Elle Macpherson.

Then, of course, News of the World published them.

At the time Scotland Yard conducted what could charitably be called a cursory investigation, then went to have a pint of bitter at the local pub.

And it gets worse: The editor of the News of the World at the time was Andy Coulson, who is now chief communications officer for British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Worster still:

AS OF THIS SUMMER, five people have filed lawsuits accusing News Group Newspapers, a division of Rupert Murdoch’s publishing empire that includes News of the World, of breaking into their voice mail. Additional cases are being prepared, including one seeking a judicial review of Scotland Yard’s handling of the investigation. The litigation is beginning to expose just how far the hacking went, something that Scotland Yard did not do. In fact, an examination based on police records, court documents and interviews with investigators and reporters shows that Britain’s revered police agency failed to pursue leads suggesting that one of the country’s most powerful newspapers was routinely listening in on its citizens.

So all this comes out in the Times Magazine, and guess what happens?

(Handy hint: Not nothing, which is usually what happens after a Times Magazine piece runs, but this:)

In Britain, Labour Politicians Call for Second Look at a Phone Scandal

Monday New York Times lede:

Senior opposition politicians are calling on the government to respond to renewed accusations that Downing Street’s chief communications officer, Andy Coulson, encouraged reporters to illegally intercept messages from the cellphones of public figures when he was editor of The News of the World.

Why this sudden fervor?

[Labour politicians were] responding to an article published by The New York Times Magazine online Wednesday and in print Sunday about the scandal.

For one day at least, the Times Magazine rules.