My understanding is that the cotton gin led to more slavery as cotton production became more profitable. The machine could process cotton but not pick it, so more hands were needed for field work.

Wiki:

The invention of the cotton gin caused massive growth in the production of cotton in the United States, concentrated mostly in the South. Cotton production expanded from 750,000 bales in 1830 to 2.85 million bales in 1850. As a result, the region became even more dependent on plantations that used black slave labor, with plantation agriculture becoming the largest sector of its economy.[35] While it took a single laborer about ten hours to separate a single pound of fiber from the seeds, a team of two or three slaves using a cotton gin could produce around fifty pounds of cotton in just one day.[36] The number of slaves rose in concert with the increase in cotton production, increasing from around 700,000 in 1790 to around 3.2 million in 1850."

See also; the cotton gin.

But if you saw where this was going and said it too early, this perspective means you’re responsible for people not taking you seriously now!

How does this make them look even mildly competent? They disclosed war plans to an unknown third party by using unsanctioned communication tools. They got lucky it was a reporter who thought he was being baited rather than a more malicious and intentioned actor.

Callous reaction to what is a clear overstep on behalf of US CBP. Denying entry would have been a more efficient move than detainment, unless the cruelty is the point.