Computer Help and Support

... the data:image/jpeg;base64... URLs actually contain the all the image data. (In the past, they probably stored the thumbnails as image files somewhere on their servers, which is why copying them would have worked on DU before.)

Even though browsers can use that data:image format to display pictures (just paste that entire URL directly in your browser's address bar to view that photo), the software here at DU will only recognize a link to an http(s) web address where an image file is stored. If my memory serves me, DU will only try embedding an image if it sees a valid web address with one of the following extensions: .gif, .png, .jpg, .jpeg.

So to embed an image here the image address has to be similar to these:

https://i.imgur.com/jiJWw.gif
https://www.democraticunderground.com/imgs/logo.gif
https://www.senate.gov/resources/images/senate_logo_black.png
http://retired.talkingpointsmemo.com/images/bobby-thompson-money.jpg
https://www.senate.gov/resources/images/sliderphotos/OldSenateChamber_bannerimage.jpg

So, as pointed out above, from a Google Image search you should click on the thumbnail to go to the site using the actual image to get the web address that points to the location of the image file.