Commentari

Commentari is a transformative civic engagement platform engineered to close the critical gap between the rapid pace of federal rulemaking and the ability of citizens to respond effectively. Built by Eric Epstein, a 32-year veteran senior policy counsel for the DOJ and ATF, primary author of the Ghost Gun Rule, and a Distinguished Presidential Rank Award recipient, this platform was designed by someone who spent decades on the receiving end of public comments. Commentari fundamentally reimagines how individuals and organizations participate in democracy by turning complex statutes and regulations into clear, actionable steps. The platform empowers users to understand pending legislation and federal rules through plain language summaries, identifies the specific issues agencies must address under the Administrative Procedure Act, and helps each supporter draft a unique, substantive comment in their own authentic voice. Submissions are sent directly to Regulations.gov and to Congress through authorized channels, ensuring every voice is properly recorded. For organizations, Commentari offers branded campaigns, nightly rule tracking, citation verification, engagement metrics, and embeddable donation links. This is not a template-based solution. There are no form letters. No duplication. Just your argument, in your voice, on the record, making democracy work better for everyone.

Instant Policy Analysis

Stop wading through 500 pages of impenetrable legal jargon. Commentari's advanced AI digests complex statutes and regulations into clear, unbiased summaries that you can actually understand in minutes. This game-changing feature breaks down the most convoluted bureaucratic documents into digestible insights, highlighting the key provisions, potential impacts, and critical deadlines that matter most to you. You get the full picture without the headache.

Smart Drafting Engine

Write professional, effective public comments in seconds, not hours. Choose your stance and your preferred tone whether professional, legalistic, witty, or urgent and let our intelligent drafting tools help you articulate your position with precision and power. The AI works with you to build a comment that reflects your personal perspective perfectly, ensuring your submission is substantive, legally relevant, and impossible to dismiss as a form letter.

Verified Submission Integration

Your comment carries weight only if it reaches the right hands. Commentari features direct, verified integration with Regulations.gov and authorized congressional channels. With a single click, your carefully crafted comment is submitted officially, bypassing the confusion of manual submission processes. We handle the paperwork, track the confirmation, and ensure your voice is permanently on the record.

Organizational Campaign Hub

Nonprofits, advocacy groups, and associations can unlock exponential impact with Commentari's powerful organizational tools. Create branded campaign pages, track member engagement in real time, receive automated nightly updates on relevant rule changes, verify citations with precision, and embed donation links directly into your advocacy efforts. This feature transforms scattered individual actions into a coordinated, measurable movement.

Individual Citizen Advocates

Everyday citizens who care about issues like gun safety, environmental protection, or healthcare reform can use Commentari to navigate the bewildering world of federal rulemaking. Instead of feeling powerless or resorting to ineffective form letters, individuals can quickly understand a proposed rule, decide their position, and draft a compelling, unique comment that captures their personal story and concerns. Their submission is then sent directly to the agency, ensuring their voice is counted as a substantive contribution, not dismissed as part of a mass mailing.

Advocacy and Nonprofit Organizations

Organizations leading campaigns on critical issues can leverage Commentari to mobilize their entire community with unprecedented efficiency. They can create custom campaign pages that guide supporters through the process, track real-time engagement metrics to see which messages resonate, and receive automated alerts when new rules are published. The platform eliminates the administrative burden of managing comments, allowing staff to focus on strategy and impact while ensuring every supporter submits a unique, high-quality comment that strengthens the organization's overall advocacy position.

Policy Researchers and Analysts

Professionals who need to stay ahead of the regulatory curve find Commentari indispensable. The platform's instant policy analysis feature allows researchers to quickly digest thousands of pages of new regulations, identifying key changes, legal vulnerabilities, and strategic opportunities. They can track multiple rules simultaneously, verify citations automatically, and generate preliminary analyses that inform their organization's response, all while saving countless hours of manual reading and research.

Law Students and Legal Clinics

Future lawyers and legal aid clinics can use Commentari as a powerful educational and practical tool. Students can practice analyzing complex regulations, identifying APA compliance issues, and drafting persuasive legal arguments. Legal clinics can efficiently manage multiple client advocacy campaigns, ensuring pro se litigants or community groups have access to high-quality, legally sound comments that challenge agency overreach or support beneficial rules, all while teaching the practical mechanics of administrative law.

Individuals can sign up for free and receive 3 free comments per month to start making their voice heard immediately. For users who need more capacity, and for organizations that require advanced features like branded campaigns, real-time analytics, and automated policy tracking, Commentari offers scalable plans. The platform is committed to making civic engagement accessible, with the free tier ensuring that cost is never a barrier to participation for individuals. Organizations should contact the team to discuss customized solutions that match their advocacy needs and scale.

How does Commentari ensure my comment is unique and not a form letter?

Commentari is built on the fundamental principle that every voice is distinct. The platform does not use templates or generate duplicate content. Instead, it asks you to choose your stance and tone, then works with you to articulate your specific perspective. The AI helps structure your argument and suggests legally relevant points, but the final comment is a unique expression of your personal values and reasoning. This approach ensures your submission is treated as a substantive individual comment by federal agencies, not dismissed as a mass-generated form letter.

Is my comment actually submitted to the government?

Yes, absolutely. Commentari features direct, verified integration with Regulations.gov for federal rulemaking comments and authorized channels for congressional submissions. When you finalize your comment, the platform handles the entire submission process, including all required metadata and formatting. You receive confirmation that your comment has been successfully filed and is permanently on the public record. We bridge the gap between drafting and official submission, eliminating the confusion and technical hurdles that often prevent people from participating.

Who created Commentari and why should I trust it?

Commentari was built by Eric Epstein, a 32-year veteran senior policy counsel for the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. He is the primary author of the Ghost Gun Rule and a recipient of the Distinguished Presidential Rank Award, the highest career civil service award. Having spent decades on the receiving end of public comments, he intimately understands what makes a comment effective and what gets dismissed. The platform is designed with deep institutional knowledge of how agencies process comments, ensuring your voice is heard in the way that matters most.

How much does it cost to use Commentari?

Individuals can sign up for free and receive 3 free comments per month to start making their voice heard immediately. For users who need more capacity, and for organizations that require advanced features like branded campaigns, real-time analytics, and automated policy tracking, Commentari offers scalable plans. The platform is committed to making civic engagement accessible, with the free tier ensuring that cost is never a barrier to participation for individuals. Organizations should contact the team to discuss customized solutions that match their advocacy needs and scale.